Column: Connecticut tribes in 'back room deal' for Keno games

The plan to legalize keno across the state was secretly on the General Assembly's radar through much of this legislative session.

Lawmakers whispered among themselves about it. The two gambling tribes knew about it. Certainly the governor, who would never miss an opportunity to appease the tribes, was in the loop.

Only the public was kept in the dark, never told that an expansion of gambling in the state was in the works.

The fact that the state has been secretly negotiating a keno deal with the tribes, cutting them in for a generous 12.5 percent take of the winnings, was obvious from the reactions from both tribes to the keno news, which took most others completely by surprise.