Politics & Government

Your Take: Should Connecticut Legalize Keno?

Democratic leaders apparently want the revenue from the games to help balance the state budget.

In an apparent about-face on expanding legal gaming in Connecticut, the governor and legislative Democrats are considering legalizing Keno.

Any such move, however, would require the approval of the state's two federally-recognized Indian tribes, the Mohegan Pequots and the Mashantucket Pequots. Both have a contract to run casinos on tribal lands in Ledyard and Montville and under those agreements they have the exclusive rights in Connecticut to operate games such as Keno. 

Under the plan being discussed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislative Democrats, Keno, electronic games that in other states is played in bars, could raise between $30 million to $40 million in new state revenues, according to the Connecticut Mirror. That money is badly needed to break an impasse on the state budget, the website reports. 

Democrats had previously criticized a plan by the former administration of Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell to legalize Keno. 

Now, Republicans are arguing that Democrats are becoming desperate for ways to balance the state budget. 

“They’re grabbing at straws here. This is not a budget. It’s a compilation of numbers on a piece of paper ...” House Republican leader Larry Cafero told the blog Capitol Watch. “They’re desperate for revenue. What’s next? Cockfights and jai alai? Greyhound racing?”

What's your take? Does more gambling matter? Share your thoughts in the comments.


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