Native Tribes Want Online Gambling in Connecticut

A few days ago, the Connecticut General Assembly made some promising remarks to reconsider legalizing some forms of online gambling in the Constitution State. The recognized tribes in the state expressed their firm interest in gambling initiatives based on their current license by American gambling laws to run land casinos.

Foxwood Resort Casino operator Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) released a statement, arguing: “Consumers are making many more of their spending choices online or through mobile devices, and industries that do not adapt to the digital consumer marketplace will suffer.”

The statement claimed: “The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation believes that regulation of Internet gaming, either at the state or Federal level, is inevitable. Regulation of Internet gaming will provide the much-needed player protections that are currently not available through unregulated offshore operators who are currently taking bets in the US and Connecticut.”

The statement added: “MPTN has been diligently studying the Internet gaming space and is preparing itself to be an active participant in the marketplace when regulations permit.”

The MPTN said that providing poker was its intention among a range of other online casino games.

Connecticut’s other federally recognized native American group, the Mohegan Tribe, claims any locally legalized remote gambling including online poker would secure them the right to operate a program according to legal contract with the federal and state government.

Chuck Bunnell, the Mohegan Tribe chief of staff for governmental and external affairs commented: “The industry would prefer punters spend their money at the casinos on gaming, food and entertainment, but if legalization is inevitable, the tribes are best qualified to run it.”