CT HB07334

Establishes a new Commission on Gaming within the executive branch, effective January 1, 2020, governed by 3 members appointed by the Governor with experience in gaming law, regulation, management, law enforcement, or corporate finance, plus a Governor-appointed Executive Director to oversee daily operations

Transfers all gaming-related functions, powers, and duties from the Department of Consumer Protection to the new Commission, which becomes the successor agency for regulation of casinos, lottery, pari-mutuel wagering, off-track betting, jai alai, bingo, sealed tickets, bazaars, raffles, and fantasy contests

Authorizes MMCT Venture, LLC (jointly owned by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes) to conduct casino gaming at 171 Bridge Street, East Windsor, Connecticut, conditioned on tribal compact amendments, federal approval, General Assembly approval, and tribal sovereign immunity waivers requiring each tribe to hold at least 25% equity interest

Assumes governance of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation on January 1, 2020, replacing its board of directors; requires lottery prizes of at least 45% of sales, agent commissions averaging at least 4% of sales, and quarterly reporting to the Governor and relevant legislative committees

Imposes graduated tax rates on gaming activities: horse racing taxed at 3.25%–8.75%, dog racing at 2%–4%, jai alai at 2%–4%, and off-track betting at 3.5% of total wagered, all plus half the breakage; municipalities hosting facilities receive 0.25%–1.6% of wagered amounts depending on facility type and population

Authorizes a maximum of 24 off-track betting branch facilities in specified municipalities, each requiring local legislative body approval after public hearing, and grants the Commission authority to set racing and jai alai meeting dates and negotiate sale of the off-track betting system

Establishes six license categories (association, concessionaire, vendor, totalizator, affiliate, and occupational) with fines up to $75,000 for association licensees; requires casino gaming employees, nongaming vendors providing over $25,000 in goods/services annually, and gaming services providers to obtain separate licenses

Regulates fantasy contests with an annual registration fee of $15,000 (reduced so fees do not exceed 10% of gross receipts), prohibits participation by persons under 18, and authorizes fines of up to $1,000 per violation

Directs 2% of revenue from any gaming newly enacted or authorized after January 1, 2020 to the chronic gamblers treatment and rehabilitation account, and requires the Commission to prepare compulsive gambling informational materials for display at all gaming facilities

Grants the Commission subpoena power with contempt penalties of up to 60 days, requires studies on the effects of legalized gambling at least every 10 years, mandates adoption of casino gaming regulations within 12 months of authorization, and repeals sections 12-570b and 21a-1b effective January 1, 2020