Democrats lawmakers in the state of Connecticut could revive sport betting bill in additional to cannabis bill so as to source funding for Gov. Ned Lamont’s transport development plan.
Casino.org has reported that state lawmakers had introduced the bill to regulate revenue and jobs from the gaming industry. The legislation also sought the expansion of sports betting and online gaming in the state. But by October, the expansion bill on sports betting was considered dead. However, Gov. Lamont continues to seek other means to fund his project. He believed that introducing 14 tolls on bridges throughout the state could finance his transportation project.
However, the 2020 election is making the Democrats lawmakers view the introduction of tolls as a bad idea. They are now looking for new sources to fund the $18 billion transportation project.
Toll not Favorite among Voters
While the voters in the state aren’t supporting tolls, Lamont is skeptical about a combination of cannabis and sports wagering bill. He doesn’t’ believe that the two will even raise $320 million, of which tolls would generate annually.
In other states, sports betting has been approved to fund projects. However, it has been discovered that additional funding could be required for the projects. Earlier in the year, analysts predicted that sports betting in Connecticut could generate $30 to $40 million annually.
Sports betting bill has been blocked because of the multiple stakeholders involved. Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes wanted exclusivity for the two states casinos while Connecticut Lottery and track betting entities wanted it to be tendered.
Heavy Lift
For sports betting legislation to pass in Connecticut, it will need the proposal to stand alone. So far, other neighboring states such as New York and Rhodes Island have legalized sports betting. On the other hand, New Jersey is already becoming a major hub for sports gambling in the US.
