The two tribes that own and operate Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun are trying to convince legislators that if sports betting is legalized, they should have the exclusive right to offer it in Connecticut.
In a letter to House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, Mohegan leaders called sports betting a “commercial casino game,” citing a legal connection between sports betting and casinos in Nevada.
Mohegan also cited an April 17 letter from Attorney General George Jepsen advising state leaders to “proceed carefully with respect to any proposals that would legalize sports wagering…”
Connecticut’s proposal to allow sports betting awaits a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected in June.
The casinos each wrote letters arguing that sports betting also pertains to their current revenue-sharing agreements, which require the casinos to give the state 25 percent of their monthly video slot machine revenue.
Mohegan also cited Jepsen’s letter that said, “The tribes may argue…that a state law permitting sports wagering in Connecticut may violate” the revenue-sharing agreements.
The tribes each signed the revenue agreements with the state in the early 1990s that mandate the payments to the state in exchange for giving the tribes the right to operate slot machines.
In a recent letter to legislative leaders, the Mashantucket Pequots also raised the specter of legalizing sports betting impacting the current agreements.
“If legislation were passed lifting the moratorium and/or violating the [the tribe’s] exclusivity, the Tribe would be entitled to stop making payments of slot revenue to the State,” Foxwoods officials said.
