Connecticut AG deals major blow to East Windsor casino plan

Connecticut shouldn’t allow tribal casino operators to proceed with the opening of $300 million casino resort in East Windsor or doom will fall on the state, according to Attorney General George Jepsen.

The Hartford Courant reported that state House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz sought the legal opinion of the attorney general—and part-time soothsayer—as lawmakers juggled different gambling-related bills, including the proposed scrapping of the East Windsor casino license and the opening up of the state to competitive bidding for expanded gambling.

In his reply, Jepsen warned lawmakers on Tuesday that Connecticut might jeopardize the state’s lucrative revenue sharing agreement with tribal casino operators Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan should the opening of East Windsor casino proceed.

Jepsen made a thorough evaluation on the proposal of the two tribes to disregard the federal approval and go on with the construction of the casino resort in East Windsor, eventually arriving at a conclusion that such plan would be detrimental to the state of Connecticut.