Reaching a Compromise

Connecticut and its tribes have been fighting over slot machine revenues for some time now. Each group has not really been willing to see the other sides’ position – and much of that has to do with the fact that the government was upset with the tribe for handing out free coupons to play those slot machines. 

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe had run a promotions program that they named “Free Play.” They handed out coupons for their patrons to their clients that let them play the slot machines for free – and once the value of those credits was gone they could either continue playing with their own money or they could walk away. 

So the tribe said that the money wasn’t really money and therefore the did not have to pay the state the slot machine revenue that was made off of the promotion. The state wanted a large payout from the tribe, who refused to pay. Then when the Mohegan Tribe ran a similar promotion with their slot machines and the same thing happened.  

However, both sides have come to the table at long last and the tribes have agreed to pay the state $25 million in slot machine revenue as well as several future payments. The state said that this is proof that they can come together and talk about their sides of the argument and come to a mutual understanding. This then leads to easier dealings when it comes to any other situations that might arise between the tribes and the state.