Supporters of sports betting in Connecticut have conceded defeat for this year. Although outgoing Governor Dannel P. Malloy presented a framework for how sports betting would operate that appealed to lawmakers and the two gaming tribes, it wasn’t enough to break a negotiating logjam.
The structure would have included offering sports betting on the reservations of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations and at locations where wagers are being accept on horseracing, including off track betting facilities. There was also some discussion of mobile betting, but only for outcome-based wagers.
However, no agreement or terms was ever reached between the governor’s staff and tribes. Neither the tribes nor the administration will comment on what broke up the talks.
Reportedly the negotiators discussed amateur sports and the need to ban betting on in-state university teams.
One problem was that time was pressing and Malloy’s desire to get an agreement before he leaves office.
Both Republicans and Democrats appear to have the votes to pass legislation, but not the incentive to do so this year before the midterm elections. Republicans refuse to go into a special session to vote up or down on a deal hammered out by a Democratic governor with no input from them.
Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz said support from the GOP members was necessary for a bill to pass. He commented, “I have folks in my caucus that are just opposed to gambling overall, whether it’s sports gambling or its lottery, they’re never going to vote for it so the handful of votes I would lose, I need help from them and they’re not willing to do it.”
Supporters expect sports betting to be brought up when the legislature convenes in January.
