Foxwoods Casino Reaches Compromise on Smoking Ban

In an effort to extinguish a controversial issue, Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed an agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot nation Thursday for a voluntary, limited smoking ban at the Foxwoods Resort casino.

The agreement is similar to one that Rell signed earlier this year with The Mohegan Tribe to limit smoking in a wide variety of areas at the casino complex.

The deal was announced as the state legislature is still debating a highly controversial bill that would impose a phased-in, total ban on smoking at both casinos. Two major legislative committees have voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ban, and some proponents say the bill should still go forward even with the new agreement.

The tribes, however, have reacted strongly against the bill, raising the specter of a potential battle over nearly $400 million per year in slot-machine revenue currently added to the cash-strapped state coffers from the casinos.

Those threats remained real Thursday as the Pequots hailed the new understanding with Rell as a major step forward.

For the full story, please see Christopher Keating, Gov. Rell Signs Smoking Deal With Foxwoods Resort Casino, Capitol Watch, Courant.com, May 7, 2009.