Editorial: No new tribes means no new casinos in Connecticut

Connecticut casinos have largely failed to recover from the economic downturn and with new competition on the horizon in nearby Massachusetts and New York, the economic outlook for Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods is bleak.

That is why it's imperative that Connecticut officials continue to block efforts by the federal government to potentially recognize three additional tribes in the state, which could lead to even more casinos. The addition of any new gambling halls in Connecticut would oversaturate an already oversaturated market.

Last week, the state received a bit of good news when the Bureau of Indian Affairs decided to extend a comment period deadline for 60 days on a proposal that could potentially recognize three more tribes in the state: the Eastern Pequot, the Golden Hill Paugussett of Colchester and Trumbull, and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Kent.

This political and legal fight has gone on for years, and there is a lot at stake for Connecticut. Besides introducing the potential for new casinos, newly recognized tribes would take land away from state and local governments, further eroding Connecticut's tax base.