Governor Dannel Malloy will meet with legislative leaders Wednesday to work on a game plan to bring sports betting to Connecticut.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court struck down a 1992 law that had barred state-authorized sports betting with the exception of Nevada. Now states, including Connecticut are scrambling to get a state wagering system up and running.
Governor Malloy says unlike other states, sports wagering will be more complicated in Connecticut because of the state's compact with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes, which brings in millions in slot machine revenue to the state's coffers.
“My opinion and the opinion of lawyers who looked at this, including the Attorney General, that if we were to move forward without a compact, then we would endanger the revenue we currently receive from the tribes,” Malloy told reporters.
Malloy said he will call a special session to deal with issue, but first, he will negotiate a new compact with the tribes.
“I appreciate that the legislature has, in the last couple of sessions had discussions on this issue, and I'm mindful of all of those,” Malloy said, “but it really has to begin with a compact, an agreement with the tribes.”
Malloy did not say whether the two tribes will have exclusive rights to sports betting in the state, calling it a "open question."
Malloy also said the special session will be called by the early summer, and concentrate solely on sports betting.
