Legislative leaders support requiring all Connecticut police departments to use body cameras as George Floyd protests continue. Recommended on Hartford Courant.{/INSERTKEYS}{/PARAGRAPH} In addition, the casinos attract millions of customers every year with more than half of them coming from out of state — bringing their money to spend on gambling, meals and hotels in Connecticut. Lamont returned to the issue of lawsuits several times last week during a news conference with reporters. I wanted something that allows us to get going with sports betting and internet gambling. For months, Lamont and the tribes have said little about the confidential negotiations. That casino would be located just over the state line from the year-old MGM Springfield casino. A source close to the negotiations said the state has discussed selling the troubled XL Center in downtown Hartford to the tribes, who would renovate and add gambling and other amenities to the arena. Both former Gov. That casino was authorized two years ago and remains in legal and financial limbo. During nearly five months of closed-door talks with the tribes, negotiators have discussed a wide variety of ideas that are still at the concept stage, including sale of the aging XL Center, which needs hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements that state legislators have been unwilling to pay for. Cathy Osten, a pro-tribes Democrat who played a key role in writing the legislation. Talks between the state and the tribes are expected to resume this week. The tribes have been unwilling to back off on the East Windsor site. Skip to content. In return for giving up East Windsor, officials said the tribes would receive permission to run sports betting across the state, operate a casino in Bridgeport, and conduct internet gambling — three major prizes in the gambling world. Ned Lamont is trying to convince the state's two federally-recognized Indian tribes to trade a proposed casino in East Windsor for other expanded gambling opportunities, including a Bridgeport casino. Latest Politics. Lawmakers forged a new coalition with the Democratic-dominated Bridgeport delegation and East Windsor lawmakers who are supportive of the proposed local casino. {PARAGRAPH}{INSERTKEYS}The proposal — discussed only in concept thus far — has surfaced as Gov. Both Rhode Island and New Jersey have moved forward with sports betting, adding to the pressure Connecticut faces. Mashantucket Pequot tribal chairman Rodney Butler said during the legislative session that the behind-the-scenes negotiations with Lamont had been complex as all sides try to agree with the legislature and the executive branch. Our neighbors are beginning to do it, and I want to get going on it. After that failure, lawmakers switched gears and are now pushing for the tribes to build in Bridgeport. This is a rendering of the proposed East Windsor facility, which would be located along I An MGM spokesman declined to comment Sunday. A possible scenario would add sports betting, restaurants and gambling as well. Ned Lamont has sought to break a gambling stalemate over casino expansion in the state. Connecticut Politics Week in Review: Amid George Floyd protests, legislators promise to take up police accountability bill. Malloy and Lamont have been unable to reach an overall compromise with the tribes. Dannel P. Any proposed solution would require approval from the General Assembly. If a casino is built in East Windsor, MGM has long said it would sue to block its opening because the state did not conduct an open process when it selected the tribes to operate the facility. Osten says the legislature should hold a special session to capture professional football gambling this fall and have the system ready before the Super Bowl next February. The latest development in the ongoing casino saga came last week with the release of a page bill by Sen.