Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is not optimistic that sports betting, or another other gaming-related bills will come out of the current session of the legislature.
The governor spoke at the state’s annual tourism conference at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, and according to press reports, got his story mixed up in the telling.
At first he said, “The negotiations are continuing.”
That contradicted what he had told Connecticut Mirror reporter Mark Pazniokas just a few minutes before. He told him that it was unlikely any gaming bill would be passed this session.
Reporters who were aware of this began pressing Lamont for details on his negotiations with the state’s gaming tribes. They were doing that as he stood next to Mashantucket Pequot tribal Chairman Rodney Butler. This prompted Lamont to plead, “Can I talk to Rodney?” Then the two walked away from the reporters.
They returned shortly, and Lamont said, “I don’t think we’re going to see it happen in this session.”
For much of this session—and the last—the tribes have claimed that all roads leading to legalized sports betting go through them. The governor pretty much conceded that point, it appears.
