Mashantucket Tribe Wants Connecticut Gambling Age Limit Lowered

The state of New York has many advantages over Connecticut when it comes to luring gamblers to their casinos. Major sports franchises, a melting pot of top dining options, and a culture that is rivaled by no other state are just a few of the examples that would draw tourists to the Empire State.

New York also has an advantage with their gambling age limit, and that is something the Mashantucket Pequot tribe wants changed. The tribe, which owns Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut, is lobbying legislators to consider changing the betting age limit from twenty-one to eighteen.

While the tribe may be serious in their request, the state does not appear willing to listen. In recent months, several expanded gambling proposals have come before the legislature, and each time the lawmakers have turned away the idea.

If the age limit was lowered, the state of Connecticut would stand to make millions of additional dollars in tax revenue. The trade off, however, would be an increase in the amount of youth gamblers, something the state is trying desperately to stay away from.

Connecticut casinos had a nice run of revenue over the past decade, but increased competition is making it harder for the casinos to keep their customers. Pennsylvania has become the biggest threat to Connecticut, with table games coming this summer at Pennsylvania casinos.

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods teamed up for the first time last year on a billboard campaign to drive gamblers away from Atlantic City. The billboards along the New Jersey Turnpike encouraged gamblers to come north to Connecticut.

April slot revenue for the two Connecticut casinos was reported at $52.3 million. That figure represented a nine percent decrease from the same period in 2009.

May 17, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

Flooding Shows Example Of Why President Casino Will Close In July
St. Louis Showing The Benefits Of Casino Gambling Expansion
SugarHouse Casino Closer To Bringing Jobs To Philadelphia
Aqueduct Casino Gambling Bids Open Again In New York
Atlantic City Casino Revenue Stabilizes In April