Connecticut bill could block tribes’ commercial casino plan

A new bill that would require Connecticut to study its plan to build a third casino could put the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegan tribes’ joint venture in danger.

In a Thursday meeting of the Connecticut House commerce committee, Rep. Chris Perone raised a concept for the bill that would require the state to study “the costs and benefits of establishing commercial gaming.”

The study would be an analysis on how a third casino would affect jobs and revenues in the state, as well as consider whether to broaden the site search beyond the I-91 and Hartford corridor.

“Let’s make decisions based on the analysis of our overall gaming climate in the state of Connecticut,” said Perone. “That’s what this is really about.”