Updated 10:14 am, Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Will there be a third casino - or a downsized gaming hall - operated by an Indian tribe in Connecticut?
That prospect - years in the making, and still a long way to go - has taken another step forward after the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation formed a “tribal business entity” to pursue development of a casino in Connecticut. In papers filed with the Secretarty of State’s office, Chief Richard Velky said the business is called Confluence of Rivers Business Entity LLC. “The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation is recognized by the state of Connecticut, but has no affiliation with the Mashantucket Pequot or Mohegan Tribes. STN seeks through this new LLC to to develop a casino in Connecticut pursuant to Special Act 15-7,” the document read.
On Tuesday, the secretary of state’s office accepted the filing on the LLC filing, but it’s expected to rule Wednesday that the tribe’s plan does not comply under the grounds of that special act.
Velky said the tribe next intends to issue a request for proposals to municipalities regarding the establishment of a possible casino gaming facility in a municipality.
“We view this as a significant economic development opportunity,” Velky said in a press statement. “Our objective will be to maximize economic opportunity for the residents of Connecticut, and to maximize revenue gained by the State of Connecticut.”
Special Act 15-7 reads: “The tribal business entity may issue a request for proposals to municipalities regarding the establishment of a possible casino gaming facility in a municipality. The request shall include, but need not be limited to, a description of the needs of the tribal business entity for the purpose of carrying on the business of a casino gaming facility. The tribal business entity shall submit any such request for proposals to the Department of Consumer Protection.”
The Legislature approved the special act to allow for a third gaming facility in the state as an effort to protect jobs and revenue from a planned casino in Springfield, Mass. Sites in East Hartford, East Windsor, Hartford and Windsor Locks have been proposed by the Mashantucket Pequot or Mohegan tribes. Approval of a gaming hall would have to be approved by the General Assembly.
The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation still faces hurdles in opening some type of gaming facility in Connecticut. In the past, the Schaghticokes had proposed building a casino in Bridgeport and the greater Danbury area or bingo hall on its reservation in Kent.
For years, the tribe has been unsuccessful at winning federal recognition that could help lead it to establish a casino on its land in Kent.
The Schaghticokes have fought for years in the federal courts to overturn the 2005 federal decision to deny sovereignty to the tribe. In 2004, the BIA granted sovereignty. But later that year, after state officials and members of Congress criticized the decision, the recognition was reversed.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the state’s congressional delegation - lead by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal - have opposed new rules by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that would have made it easier for tribes like the Schaghticokes and the Golden Hill Paugusetts to win federal recognition. Under new rules released last year, tribes previously denied recognition will not be able to reapply and cannot use centuries-old state recognition to qualify for federal recognition, which would bring the ability to operate casinos on tribal land.
The provision appears to rule out new applications by the The Golden Hill Paugussetts Indians, which have a Trumbull reservation, The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, the faction of the Schaghticoke tribe which has a reservation in Kent, and the Eastern Pequots. All three tribes are state recognized.
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