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Legislators Say More Casinos Too Much of a Gamble

Connecticut needs more revenue, but legislators say more casinos are not the answer.


While some legislators want Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the General Assembly to consider expanding casinos across the Nutmeg State, others say no dice.

State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, a Democrat representing New Haven in the 94th House District, frowns on the whole idea.

“Sure you can raise revenue but what are you promoting to do it?” Holder-Winfield said.

He also questions whether adding to Foxwoods would make Connecticut more competitive.

“Casinos? Not a fan of expanding them!” said state Rep. Brenda Kupchick, a Republican representing Fairfield in the 132nd House District. “There's so much data that shows how detrimental they are to the cities and towns were they're built.”

Aside from concerns of a more moral nature, there are concerns of the money kind.

Simply put, Fred Carstensen, director for the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut, questions whether more roulette tables mean more revenue.

“I don’t see that expanding gambling in Connecticut would have much impact – we already have a lot between the casinos and the state lottery,” Carstensen said. “If you opened facilities in Bridgeport or western Connecticut it would largely divert gambling from the current sites. There might be some gain, but there are costs too – policing, transportation.”

Because the next session is a short session, lawmakers will be hard pressed to find time to deal with more than tweaking the budget and tackling education. Still, with a shaky economy issues like expanding gaming beyond Foxwoods might be explored.

“As for expanding casinos, I am not a fan of gambling, but I do think we need to decide which way we are going to go with regard to the casinos and other forms of legalized gambling,” said state Rep. Fred Camillo, a Republican representing Greenwich in the 151st House District. “I am aware of the revenue generated by gambling and the ways we can increase (advertising dollars) revenue to the state that doesn't include involuntary taxes."

"It is a discussion that needs to take place,” he said.

Some lawmakers want to understand the stakes more before deciding.

State Rep. Kim Rose, a Democrat representing Milford in the 116th House District, said she still needs to hear both sides. 

George E. Mulligan December 5, 2011 at 10:10 pm
FDR: "Organized Money is more dangerous than Organized Crime."
Illegal versus “Governments’ legalized ex-Mafia-like Cash Cows;” “*PROstitution: CONstitution” “*CONgress: PROgress” “*VIET CONGress: SO. VIETnam (man)” ”*Bribery: Lobbyists” “*Graft: Representative Government” “*Inequitable laws: Republic” “*Election rigging (Parties’ selection): Democracy” “*Contemptible: Courts” “*Dishonorable: Judges” “*Oiligarchy, Petro-Plutocratic Spoils System: Oil system” “*Kleptocratic Fagan-omics: Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations” “*Numbers: Lottery; Powerball” “*Bookmaking: OTB, Jai Alai, Dog-Horse Racing, Simulcast” “*Loan Shark (Usury): Credit Card Rates “*GamBle: GamPle Pavilion?” “*Casinos: Indian Bagmen, without Reservations; Stock-Bond Markets” “*Co.CAiNE, POT, METH, LSD: CONTROLLED" Substances; (D.E.A.th)” “*F.A.T.E.: Firearms, Alcohol, Tobacco, & Explosives (Weapons Traffic)” “*Extortion: IRS, INSURANCE, CORRUPTicut REVENUE ServeVices” “*Assault & Battery: Boxing, MMA, UFC, Football” “*Racist segregation: Zoning; Eviscerated Sheff vs. O'Neill;” “Police State: Liberty,” “*Royals, Russia, China, O.P.E.C. Dictators: Justice, Freedom, Opportunity” “*Mensa moronic: (Military) Intelligence Community” “9/11/2001; wMD:” Patriotic National Security “*Prostitution: Zoning Massage Parlors; Liquor Commission Strip joints;
Charles Baltayan December 5, 2011 at 11:09 pm
I havre heard from Casino employees that the Casinos are not as busy as theyonce were and have reduced staffing. My guess is that revenues are also down so returns will be down, as well.... probably not a good solution to add more.
Barbara T. December 6, 2011 at 01:00 am
Revenue might be down at the Casinos. But the real question is with all the money that the State Of Ct has received from the two Casinos since they have opened. How was it spent? With that much income coming in from the Casinos the State should of been in darn good shape if it was spent the way it should of been.The State has hundreds of their own lottery games and we are still in poor shape.
Robert Chambers December 6, 2011 at 01:13 pm
It's not a revenue problem its a spending problem. Sooner or later they will have to realize there's no more blood in the stone left to squeeze.
RONALD M GOLDWYN December 6, 2011 at 02:42 pm
Yes revinue is down, and now MA is going into the Casino business. This means with the limited casinos in NY, CT will be getting a smaller and smaller cut of the tourist dollar. Our casino's will be surrounded and will have only local residents to support them. This will also effect the take that our government receives as well.
Expand - hell no, even Atlantic City is in trouble. Yes blame it on the economy.

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Ashley Riera June 17, 2013 at 03:02 pm
To clarify, for those who are wondering why we can't just take the two cats up with us, we alreadyRead More have four cats, and a dog. We could only take two of the four cats with us, plus the dog (who is 14yrs. old.) The limit for the rental is three pets... this was a hard decision for us all. We would have taken them all if we could.
Bunny The Dog
Alyson Cahill June 13, 2013 at 07:01 am
Edit: Bunny was stolen WITH the truck. Suspect is Caucasian male in his 50s. Truck is red Dodge RamRead More with dent in rear passenger side cab. Please help! Call 203-257-3001 or 203-645-1282 with any information. No questions asked.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Found!! https://www.facebook.com/BringBunnyHome
Shirley B. Backus June 13, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Another example of why to never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle!
A photo of Sam (Credit: Contributed Photo)
Amy Taylor June 13, 2013 at 12:25 am
Thank you so much! You have no idea how grateful we are! You are very special people!!
Kathie June 13, 2013 at 03:58 am
Now that Sam has been found, the reason he ran off was due to the sound of gunfire at RooseveltRead More Forest in the early afternoon as his master was getting ready to take him out of his car. All had been quiet, the park was open, so the loud bangs were a surprise - both to Sam and his "Dad". To the best of my knowledge, when the shooting range is used by the Stratford PD, the park is closed to the public. It was that way always and I believe still is. But now, with non-Stratford police personnel using the range, obviously the Park is NOT closed as was observed/heard yesterday at 2 separate time periods of the day. The range is used by at least one other police department. Of course, there could be unauthorized people using the range too. I just don't know. But what I do know that yesterday (Wed), there was shooting early afternoon, and then again around 6PM. I observed at around 5:00PM, a little boy running up the dirt road that leads to the shooting range. The park remained opened all day! The shooting was NOT being done by the Stratford Police. People do not always stick to the trails, and as we all know, children can be quite curious. Who is to say a child and/or adult gets near the berm or behind it and someone shoots over the berm? What goes up, has to come down. I also was told that neighbors say there is shooting going on quite frequently, even on Sundays. I doubt that this is from Stratford PD, because outdoor shooting usually occurs for a week or so, twice a year. Tighter controls must be done! Surely, the parking area can be checked for vehicles... but I observed yesterday people entering the parking area (adjacent to the driveway leading up to the range) on foot, on bicycles, and motorcycles. So people could be in the park even when no vehicles are observed in the lot. Safety is key here! Procedures need to be put in place and perhaps limitations on when other police department(s) can use the range. It is not fair to the surrounding residents to have to hear the bang bang bang on Saturdays and Sundays. It scares some of them, and I know that one person who lives nearby says her dog gets scared right inside their house! What will it take? A child or an adult wandering near the range, thinking it is OK because the Forest is open... and then, all of a sudden, there is shooting and one gets shot, especially a child? This may sound extreme, but children can move quick and suddenly. I think of that little boy running up toward the range. He could have very well traveled through the woods. I can picture bullets being shot over the berm, not on purpose, but it can happen. Or shots go to the left or to the right; and people could be in the same general area - out of sight of the shooters. Bottom Line: The "public" can not be in the park while the range is "live", or in other words, when there is shooting taking place. As how to ensure that the public is not in the park, is not for me to determine. But the Town has to step up to the plate and address this very important issue.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 11:17 am
So happy to hear that your dog has been found! :)
ShirleyJ June 11, 2013 at 09:00 pm
Great shot! We were looking for the rainbow!!!
samgranata June 12, 2013 at 08:12 am
Great shot! One of my favorite places to take pictures of weather
Jaimie Cura (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 02:03 pm
That's beautiful Carol! I'm surrounded by land so this is so great to see!
re26 June 14, 2013 at 04:19 am
Reagan's quote is from the 1988 GOP convention that 'facts are stupid things'...John Adams made theRead More original quote.
Steve Raguskus June 15, 2013 at 10:20 am
I hope people note how these comments go. Anonymous right-wingers try to change the discussion,Read More prove a point that no one is arguing, and then declare victory. Both "Goodie Bassett" and "Reagan Night" say Ms. Daponte is lying because Tony Smith won't be removed from office. I just re-read Beth's piece to see where she made this claim, but she never said anything of the sort. What she did say was "Both Tony and Linda serve until January 1, 2016." So, where's the "half-truth"? The point of the post is that the new land use District II, comprised of the 3rd & 4th council districts, has no representation on any of these boards. Tony Smith will be the District II Zoning Commissioner, even though he doesn't live in that district. The extreme right can't defend this, so they try to change the subject.
richard brown June 15, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Isn't it odd that the half truths are written by people that won't sigh their real name but theRead More Democrats sign theirs. Huh, guess they don't want to be held accountable for their inuendo's and false acusations.
Robert Chambers June 10, 2013 at 04:15 pm
If the worst thing against Mayor Harkins is the lack of allowance of golf carts on the streets ofRead More Lordship then he's doing pretty well.
Mike Reynolds June 10, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Robert Chambers...a voice of reason in Lordship.
Truckie June 11, 2013 at 09:54 am
What a wonderful town we live in that the only problem we have worthwhile to discuss is golf cartsRead More driving down the street! WHO CARES? I have kids riding their go carts and mini bikes around our neighborhood. They learn how to fix them and have some fun which doen't include stealing or damaging my property. Actually I enjoy helping them and occasionally lend them a tool or two. The parents make them be considerate by not allowing them to ride around early morning or late evenings. SO WHO CARES! I guess you will want to stop all the people at Oronoque condos from driving across the road up there too? Hey..on the road is on the road. Again, WHO CARES? Get informed and worry about a real problem facing us here in town!