May 18th 2015, in Hartford, Connecticut it is expected that this week lawmakers will vote on a bill that has had a few changes to it so that it would create a two-step process for approving a new tribal casino. New casino development is wanted by several lawmakers as well as tribal casino owners in the state to help combat out of state gambling competition. New casino resorts are planned in nearby Massachusetts and New York.

Senate Majority Leader, Bob Duff said that this will then add an extra eight to ten months to the tribes’ plans to open a jointly run facility. He also said that this new version will address the issues that were raised by Attorney General George Jepsen in regards to the constitutional process and will protect more than 9000 jobs that are in place at southeastern Connecticut casinos, which are owned by the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequots.

It is expected that the Democratic controlled Senate will vote on the revised bill this week.

The latest draft will allow for two federally recognized tribes to issue a request for proposals to municipalities in regards to the possibility of building a new casino. The bill would then limit the tribes to one facility instead of the three  first proposed.

Also the bill will not require local referendums in order for a new casino to be approved as not all cities and towns in Connecticut use that election process.