§ 12-852 — Master wagering licenses for Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.

(a) The commissioner may issue a master wagering license to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, or an instrumentality or an affiliate wholly-owned by said tribe, and a master wagering license to the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or an instrumentality or an affiliate wholly-owned by said tribe, and each master wagering license shall permit the licensee to operate one skin for online sports wagering within the state, operate one skin for online casino gaming within the state and operate fantasy contests within the state, pursuant to the provisions of sections 12-855 to 12-871, inclusive, as applicable, provided: (1) Pursuant to section 12-851 , (A) amendments to the Mashantucket Pequot procedures and to the Mashantucket Pequot memorandum of understanding with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, or a new compact with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and (B) amendments to the Mohegan compact and to the Mohegan memorandum of understanding with the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or a new compact with, the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, are effective; (2) The governing bodies of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut each enact a resolution providing that (A) such tribe waives the defense of sovereign immunity with respect to any action against such tribe as a master wagering licensee, and against an instrumentality of or affiliate wholly-owned by such tribe that is acting on behalf of such tribe as a master wagering licensee, to compel compliance with the provisions of sections 12-850 to 12-871 , inclusive, and, as applicable, sections 12-578f , 12-586f , 12-586g , 12-806c , 52-553 , 52-554 , 53-278a and 53-278g and the regulations promulgated by the state pursuant to said sections, applicable to the operation of online casino gaming, online sports wagering and fantasy contests outside of the reservation lands of the tribe; (B) if such tribe as master wagering licensee, or such tribe's instrumentality or wholly-owned affiliate that is acting on behalf of such tribe as master wagering licensee, fails to pay any fees or taxes due to the state under sections 12-850 to 12-871 , inclusive, or, as applicable, sections 12-578f , 12-586f , 12-586g , 12-806c , 17a-713 , 52-553 , 52-554 , 53-278a or 53-278g , the tribe waives the defense of sovereign immunity with respect to any action by the state against such tribe as master wagering licensee, or against an instrumentality of or affiliate wholly-owned by such tribe acting on behalf of such tribe as master wagering licensee, to permit the collection of such fees or taxes against such master wagering licensee from the operation of online casino gaming, online sports wagering and fantasy contests, as applicable, outside the reservation lands of the tribe; and (C) the venue for such action or claim shall be in the judicial district of Hartford; and (3) The commissioner has determined that the requirements to issue a master wagering license to the Connecticut Lottery Corporation under section 12-853 have been met. (b) The holder of a master wagering license issued under subsection (a) of this section may not operate online sports wagering, online casino gaming or fantasy contests until the regulations, including, but not limited to, emergency regulations, adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 12-865 are effective. (c) (1) A master wagering license issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall expire (A) upon the expiration of any new compact or amendment, or renewal thereof, entered into pursuant to section 12-851 , (B) if the tribe holding such license operates E-bingo machines at a casino on the tribe's reservation in this state at any time during the ten-year initial term of any amendment or new compact, as described in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 12-851 , or (C) if the holder of such master wagering license ceases to be a tribe, or an instrumentality of or an affiliate wholly-owned by a tribe. (2) Upon the expiration of a master wagering license pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, all other licenses associated with the expired master wagering license, including licenses for an online gaming operator or online service provider, and all corresponding key employee, live game employee or occupational employee licenses, shall expire without the need for any further action by the department. (d) The holder of a master wagering license issued under subsection (a) of this section may enter into an agreement with an online gaming operator for the provision of services for a skin authorized pursuant to this section or for fantasy contests, provided such online gaming operator is licensed by the department under section 12-857 .

Legislative History

(P.A. 21-23, S. 3; P.A. 23-54, S. 3.) History: P.A. 21-23 effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 23-54 amended Subsec. (c)(2) by adding “live game employee”, effective June 26, 2023.