Bill Text: CT SB00957 | 2017 | General Assembly | Chaptered


Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Regulation Of Gaming And The Authorization Of A Casino Gaming Facility In The State.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-27 - Signed by the Governor [SB00957 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2017-SB00957-Chaptered.html

Substitute Senate Bill No. 957

Public Act No. 17-89

AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF GAMING AND THE AUTHORIZATION OF A CASINO GAMING FACILITY IN THE STATE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 12-557b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As used in this chapter, sections 12-579 and 12-580, [and] chapter 226b, sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this act, and section 53-278g, as amended by this act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer Protection;

(2) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Protection;

(3) "Business organization" means a partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, firm, corporation, trust or other form of business or legal entity, other than a financial institution regulated by a state or federal agency which is not exercising control over an association licensee, [; and] but does not mean a governmental or sovereign entity;

(4) "Control" means the power to exercise authority over or direct the management and policies of a person or business organization; [. ]

(5) "Casino gaming facility" means any casino gaming facility authorized by any provision of the general statutes or a public or special act to conduct authorized games on its premises, but does not include any casino gaming facility located on Indian lands pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, P.L. 100-497, 25 USC 2701 et seq.;

(6) "Authorized game" means any game of chance specifically authorized to be conducted at a casino gaming facility by any provision of the general statutes or a public or special act; and

(7) "Gross gaming revenue" means the total of all sums actually received by a casino gaming facility from gaming operations less the total of all sums paid as winnings to patrons of the casino gaming facility, provided the total of all sums paid as winnings to such patrons shall not include the cash equivalent value of any merchandise or thing of value included in a jackpot or payout, and provided further the issuance to or wagering by such patrons of any promotional gaming credit shall not be included in the total of all sums actually received by a casino gaming facility for the purposes of determining gross gaming revenue.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than twelve months after the date any authorization of a casino gaming facility by any provision of the general statutes or a public or special act is effective, the commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, for the administration of casino gaming facilities. Such regulations shall include provisions to protect the public interest in the integrity of gaming operations and reduce the dangers of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods and activities in the conduct of gaming. Such regulations shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) Minimum accounting standards for a casino gaming facility;

(2) Minimum security procedures including the video monitoring of casino gaming facilities;

(3) Approved hours of operation for gaming and nongaming activities at casino gaming facilities;

(4) Procedures governing the manufacture, sale, lease and distribution of gaming devices and equipment for use in casino gaming facilities;

(5) Procedures for the recovery of winnings by patrons of casino gaming facilities;

(6) Procedures governing how gross gaming revenue is calculated and reported by a casino gaming facility;

(7) Requirements for regular auditing of the financial statements of a casino gaming facility;

(8) Procedures to be followed by any casino gaming facility for cash transactions;

(9) Procedures regarding the maintenance of lists of persons banned from any casino gaming facility and security measures to enforce such bans;

(10) Standards for the provision of complimentary goods and services to casino gaming facility patrons;

(11) Minimum standards of training for persons employed in a casino gaming facility;

(12) Procedures governing the submission of standards of operation and management of gaming operations by casino gaming facilities to the commissioner; and

(13) Requirements for information and reports from casino gaming facilities to enable effective auditing of casino gaming operations.

(b) Until such regulations are adopted and in effect, a casino gaming facility may operate pursuant to its standards of operation and management, provided such standards are approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 3 of this act.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Each casino gaming facility shall submit to the commissioner a description of its standards of operation and management of all gaming operations. The description shall include: (1) Accounting controls to be used in casino gaming operations; (2) job descriptions for all positions involved in casino gaming operations; (3) procedures for the security of chips, cash and other cash equivalents used in authorized games; (4) procedures for the safety and security of patrons of the casino gaming facility; (5) procedures and rules governing the conduct of any authorized games conducted at the casino gaming facility; (6) a certification by the attorney of the casino gaming facility that the submitted standards of operation and management conform to state law and regulations governing casino gaming operations; (7) a certification by the chief financial officer of the casino gaming facility or an independent auditor that the submitted standards of operation and management provide adequate and effective controls, establish a consistent overall system of procedures and administrative and accounting controls and conform to generally accepted accounting principles; and (8) any other standards required by the commissioner.

(b) The commissioner shall approve or reject a submission of standards of operation and management required under subsection (a) of this section not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner received such standards. If the commissioner fails to approve or reject a submission of standards of operation and management not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner received such standards of operation and management, such standards of operation and management shall be deemed approved. No casino gaming facility may commence casino gaming operations unless such standards of operation and management are approved by the commissioner or deemed approved.

(c) No casino gaming facility shall revise any standards of operation and management that have been approved by the commissioner or deemed approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section unless the revision has been approved by the commissioner. If the commissioner fails to approve or reject a submitted revision not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner received such revision, such revision shall be deemed approved.

(d) A casino gaming facility aggrieved by an action of the commissioner under the provisions of this section may request a hearing before the commissioner. The commissioner shall hold such hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes.

(e) The commissioner shall periodically review a casino gaming facility's compliance with state law and regulations governing casino gaming facilities.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) No person may commence or continue employment on the gaming floor or in a gaming-related position in a casino gaming facility unless such person holds a gaming employee license issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section.

(b) No person or business organization may provide more than twenty-five thousand dollars of nongaming goods or services per year in a casino gaming facility unless such person or business organization holds a nongaming vendor license issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section.

(c) No person or business organization may provide gaming services or gaming equipment to a casino gaming facility unless such person or business organization holds a gaming services license issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section.

(d) No business organization, other than a shareholder in a publicly traded corporation, may exercise control in or over a licensee licensed pursuant to this section unless such business organization holds a gaming affiliate license issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section.

(e) Each applicant for a license issued pursuant to this section shall submit a completed application on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Such application forms may require the applicant to submit information as to: (1) Financial standing and credit; (2) moral character; (3) criminal record, if any; (4) previous employment; (5) corporate, partnership or association affiliations; (6) ownership of personal assets; and (7) any other information as the commissioner deems pertinent to the issuance of such license.

(f) The commissioner shall, as soon as practicable after the receipt of a completed license application, grant or deny the license application. Any license issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall be effective for not more than one year from the date of issuance. Applications for renewal of any such license shall be on such form as prescribed by the commissioner. Any holder of a license issued pursuant to this section who submits an application to renew such license may continue to be employed by a casino gaming facility or provide services to a casino gaming facility until the commissioner denies such renewal application.

(g) The commissioner may issue a temporary license at the request of any person who has submitted an application for a license under this section. The commissioner shall require such applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks before receiving a temporary license. The criminal history records checks shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a of the general statutes. A temporary license shall expire when the commissioner grants or denies the pending application for a license under this section.

(h) The commissioner may investigate any person or business organization that holds a license pursuant to this section at any time and may suspend or revoke such license for good cause after a hearing held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes. Any person or business organization whose license is suspended or revoked, or any applicant aggrieved by the action of the commissioner concerning an application for a license or renewal application, may appeal pursuant to section 4-183 of the general statutes.

Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section, "alcoholic liquor" has the same meaning as provided in section 30-1 of the general statutes.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person under the minimum age for the purchase of alcoholic liquor under the provisions of chapter 545 of the general statutes shall be admitted onto the gaming floor of any casino gaming facility nor be permitted to participate in any authorized games.

(c) A person eighteen years of age or older but under the minimum age for the purchase of alcoholic liquor may be employed in a casino gaming facility, provided such person is licensed by the commissioner pursuant to section 4 of this act and such employment does not involve handling or serving alcoholic liquor.

Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Commencing in any fiscal year that a casino gaming facility is authorized by any provision of the general statutes to conduct authorized games, and on or before September thirtieth in each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall: (1) Estimate, after consultation with each casino gaming facility, the reasonable and necessary costs that will be incurred by the department in the next fiscal year to regulate casino gaming facilities under chapters 226 and 545 of the general statutes and sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act; and (2) assess each casino gaming facility its share of such estimated costs pro rata according to its annualized share of the gross gaming revenue of all casino gaming facilities in the prior fiscal year, if any. The estimated costs shall not exceed the estimate of expenditure requirements transmitted by the commissioner pursuant to section 4-77 of the general statutes. The assessment for any fiscal year shall be: (A) Reduced pro rata by the amount of any surplus from the assessment of the prior fiscal year, which shall be maintained in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, or (B) increased pro rata by the amount of any deficit from the assessment of the prior fiscal year.

(b) Each casino gaming facility shall pay to the commissioner the amount assessed to such casino gaming facility not later than the date specified by the commissioner for payment, provided such date is not less than thirty days from the date of such assessment. The commissioner shall remit to the Treasurer all funds received pursuant to this section.

(c) (1) There is established a fund to be known as the "State Gaming Regulatory Fund". The fund shall contain any moneys required or permitted to be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. Investment earnings credited to the assets of said fund shall become part of the assets of said fund. Any balance remaining in said fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in said fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. Moneys in the fund shall be expended by the Treasurer for the purposes of paying the costs incurred by the department to regulate casino gaming facilities.

(2) The Treasurer shall deposit all funds received pursuant to subsection (b) of this section in the State Gaming Regulatory Fund.

(d) On or before September thirtieth, annually, the Comptroller shall calculate the actual reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the department to regulate casino gaming facilities during the prior fiscal year. The Treasurer shall set aside within the State Gaming Regulatory Fund amounts received in excess of such actual costs. Such excess amounts shall be considered a surplus for the purposes of subsection (a) of this section.

(e) Any casino gaming facility aggrieved by an assessment under the provisions of this section may request a hearing before the commissioner not later than thirty days after such assessment. The commissioner shall hold such hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes not later than thirty days after receiving such request.

Sec. 7. Section 12-561 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

No commissioner or unit head or employee of the department shall directly or indirectly, individually or as a member of a partnership or as a shareholder of a corporation, have any interest whatsoever in dealing in any lottery, racing, fronton, [or] betting enterprise or casino gaming facility or in the ownership or leasing of any property or premises used by or for any lottery, racing, fronton, [or] betting enterprise or casino gaming facility. No commissioner or unit head shall, directly or indirectly, wager at any off-track betting facility, race track or fronton authorized under this chapter, [or] purchase lottery tickets issued under this chapter or play, directly or indirectly, any authorized game conducted at a casino gaming facility. The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to prohibit any employee of the department from engaging, directly or indirectly, in any form of legalized gambling activity in which such employee is involved because of his or her employment with the department. For purposes of this section, "unit head" means a managerial employee with direct oversight of a legalized gambling activity.

Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 12-562 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner shall have power to enforce the provisions of this chapter and chapter 226b, and shall adopt all necessary regulations for that purpose and for carrying out, enforcing and preventing violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, for the inspection of licensed premises, [or] enterprises or casino gaming facilities, for insuring proper, safe and orderly conduct of licensed premises, [or] enterprises or casino gaming facilities and for protecting the public against fraud or overcharge. The commissioner shall have power generally to do whatever is reasonably necessary for the carrying out of the intent of this chapter; and may call upon other administrative departments of the state government and of municipal governments for such information and assistance as he or she deems necessary to the performance of his or her duties. The commissioner shall set racing and jai alai meeting dates, except that the commissioner may delegate to designated staff the authority for setting make-up performance dates. The commissioner shall, as far as practicable, avoid conflicts in the dates assigned for racing or the exhibition of the game of jai alai in the state.

Sec. 9. Section 12-563a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall, within available resources, prepare and distribute informational materials designed to inform the public of the programs available for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of compulsive gamblers in this state. The commissioner shall require any casino gaming facility and any person or business organization which is licensed to sell lottery tickets, operate an off-track betting system or conduct wagering on racing events or jai alai games, to display such informational materials at the casino gaming facility and each licensed premise, respectively.

Sec. 10. Section 12-577 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

The commissioner shall annually cause to be made by some competent person or persons in the department a thorough audit of the books and records of each association licensee under this chapter and each casino gaming facility and the commissioner may, from time to time, cause to be made by some competent person in the department a thorough audit of the books and records of any other person or business organization licensed under this chapter. All such audit records shall be kept on file in the commissioner's office at all times. Each licensee and casino gaming facility shall permit access to its books and records for the purpose of having such audit made, and shall produce, upon written order of the commissioner, any documents and information required for such purpose.

Sec. 11. Section 12-578 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, governing registration and the issuance and annual renewal of licenses and payment of annual nonrefundable application fees for the same in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) Registration: (A) Stable name, one hundred dollars; (B) partnership name, one hundred dollars; (C) colors, twenty dollars; (D) kennel name, one hundred dollars.

(2) Licenses: (A) Owner, one hundred dollars; (B) trainer, one hundred dollars; (C) assistant trainer, one hundred dollars; (D) jockey, forty dollars; (E) jockey agent, for each jockey, one hundred dollars; (F) stable employees, including exercise boy, groom, stable foreman, hot walker, outrider, twenty dollars; (G) veterinarian, one hundred dollars; (H) jockey apprentice, forty dollars; (I) driver, one hundred dollars; (J) valet, twenty dollars; (K) blacksmith, twenty dollars; (L) plater, twenty dollars; (M) concessionaire, for each concession, two hundred fifty dollars; (N) concessionaire affiliate, for each concession of the concessionaire, two hundred fifty dollars; (O) concession employees, twenty dollars; (P) jai alai players, one hundred dollars; (Q) officials and supervisors, one hundred dollars; (R) pari-mutuel employees, forty dollars; (S) other personnel engaged in activities regulated under this chapter, twenty dollars; (T) vendor, for each contract, two hundred fifty dollars; (U) totalizator, for each contract, two hundred fifty dollars; (V) vendor and totalizator affiliates, for each contract of the vendor or totalizator, two hundred fifty dollars; (W) gaming employee, forty dollars; (X) nongaming vendor, two hundred fifty dollars; (Y) gaming services, five hundred dollars; and (Z) gaming affiliate, two hundred fifty dollars. For the purposes of this subdivision, "concessionaire affiliate" means a business organization, other than a shareholder in a publicly traded corporation, that may exercise control in or over a concessionaire; and "concessionaire" means any individual or business organization granted the right to operate an activity at a dog race track or off-track betting facility for the purpose of making a profit that receives or, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment, can be expected to receive more than twenty-five thousand dollars or twenty-five per cent of its gross annual receipts from such activity at such track or facility.

(b) The commissioner shall require each applicant for a license under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to submit to state and national criminal history records checks before such license is issued. The criminal history records checks required pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a.

Sec. 12. Section 53-278g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Nothing in sections 53-278a to [53-278g] 53-278f, inclusive, shall be construed to prohibit the publication of an advertisement of, or the operation of, or participation in, a state lottery, pari-mutuel betting at race tracks licensed by the state, off-track betting conducted by the state or a licensee authorized to operate the off-track betting system, authorized games at a casino gaming facility, a promotional drawing for a prize or prizes, conducted for advertising purposes by any person, firm or corporation other than a retail grocer or retail grocery chain, wherein members of the general public may participate without making any purchase or otherwise paying or risking credit, money, or any other tangible thing of value or a sweepstakes conducted pursuant to sections 42-295 to 42-301, inclusive.

(b) The Mashantucket Pequot tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or their agents, may use and possess at any location within the state, solely for the purpose of training individuals in skills required for employment by the tribe or testing a gambling device, any gambling device which the tribes are authorized to utilize on their reservations pursuant to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; provided no money or other thing of value shall be paid to any person as a result of the operation of such gambling device in the course of such training or testing at locations outside of the reservation of the tribe. Any person receiving such training or testing such device may use any such device in the course of such training or testing. Whenever either of said tribes intends to use and possess at any location within the state any such gambling device for the purpose of testing such device, the tribe shall give prior notice of such testing to the Department of Consumer Protection.

(c) Any casino gaming facility, or its agents, may use and possess at any location within the state, solely for the purpose of training individuals in skills required for employment by the casino gaming facility or testing a gambling device, any gambling device which the casino gaming facility may use for conducting authorized games at the casino gaming facility, provided no money or other thing of value shall be paid to any person as a result of the operation of such gambling device in the course of such training or testing at locations outside of the casino gaming facility. Any person receiving such training or testing such device may use any such device in the course of such training or testing. Whenever a casino gaming facility intends to use and possess at any location within the state any such gambling device for the purpose of testing such device, the casino gambling facility shall give prior notice of such testing to the Department of Consumer Protection.

Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 30-37k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) As used in this section and subsection (a) of section 30-91: (1) "Casino" means the premises within which a gaming facility is operated with other facilities, including, but not limited to, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, bingo halls or convention centers; and (2) "gaming facility" means a room or rooms within which class III gaming, as defined in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, P. L. 100-497, 25 USC 2701, et seq. , or an authorized game, as defined in section 12-557b, as amended by this act, is legally conducted.

Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section and section 15 of this act:

(1) "Authorized games" means any game of chance, including, but not limited to, blackjack, poker, dice, money-wheels, roulette, baccarat, chuck-a-luck, pan game, over and under, horse race game, acey-deucy, beat the dealer, bouncing ball, video facsimile game and any other game of chance authorized by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection;

(2) "Mashantucket Pequot memorandum of understanding" means the memorandum of understanding entered into by and between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe on January 13, 1993, as amended on April 30, 1993;

(3) "Mashantucket Pequot procedures" means the Final Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Procedures prescribed by the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior pursuant to Section 2710(d)(7)(B)(vii) of Title 25 of the United States Code and published in 56 Federal Register 24996 (May 31, 1991);

(4) "MMCT Venture, LLC" means a limited liability company described in subsection (d) of this section;

(5) "Mohegan compact" means the Tribal-State Compact entered into by and between the state and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut on May 17, 1994; and

(6) "Mohegan memorandum of understanding" means the memorandum of understanding entered into by and between the state and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut on May 17, 1994.

(b) MMCT Venture, LLC, is authorized to conduct authorized games at a casino gaming facility at 171 Bridge Street, East Windsor, Connecticut.

(c) Such authorization shall not be effective unless the following conditions have been met:

(1) (A) The Governor enters into amendments to the Mashantucket Pequot procedures and to the Mashantucket Pequot memorandum of understanding with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and amendments to the Mohegan compact and to the Mohegan memorandum of understanding with the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut concerning the operation of a casino gaming facility in the state.

(B) The amendments to the Mashantucket Pequot procedures and the Mohegan compact shall include a provision that the authorization of MMCT Venture, LLC, to conduct authorized games in the state does not terminate the moratorium against the operation of video facsimile games by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut on each tribe's reservation.

(C) The amendments to each tribe's memorandum of understanding shall include a provision that the authorization of MMCT Venture, LLC, to conduct authorized games in the state does not relieve each tribe from each tribe's obligation to contribute a percentage of the gross operating revenues of video facsimile games to the state as provided in each tribe's memorandum of understanding.

(2) The amendments to the Mashantucket Pequot procedures, the Mashantucket Pequot memorandum of understanding, the Mohegan compact and the Mohegan memorandum of understanding are approved or deemed approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior pursuant to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, P. L. 100-497, 25 USC 2701 et seq. , and its implementing regulations. If such approval is overturned by a court in a final judgment, which is not appealable, the authorization provided under this section shall cease to be effective.

(3) The amendments to the Mashantucket Pequot procedures and to the Mohegan compact are approved by the General Assembly pursuant to section 3-6c of the general statutes.

(4) The amendments to the Mashantucket Pequot memorandum of understanding and to the Mohegan memorandum of understanding are approved by the General Assembly pursuant to the process described in section 3-6c of the general statutes.

(5) The governing bodies of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut enact resolutions providing: (A) That if MMCT Venture, LLC, fails to pay any fees or taxes due the state, the tribes, as the members of MMCT Venture, LLC, waive the possible defense of sovereign immunity with respect to any action or claim by the state against the tribes as the members of MMCT Venture, LLC, to the extent such action or claim is permitted to be brought against a member of a limited liability company under state law to collect any fees or taxes, while preserving any other defenses available to the tribes, and (B) that the venue for such action or claim shall be in the judicial district of Hartford.

(d) Such authorization shall apply to MMCT Venture, LLC, provided: (1) MMCT Venture, LLC, is a limited liability company jointly and exclusively owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut; (2) no other person or business organization holds an equity interest in MMCT Venture, LLC; and (3) each tribe holds at least a twenty-five per cent equity interest in MMCT Venture, LLC. If MMCT Venture, LLC, ceases to be a limited liability company jointly and exclusively owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut in which each tribe holds at least a twenty-five per cent equity interest, such authorization shall be void.

Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section, "gross gaming revenue" has the same meaning as provided in section 12-557b of the general statutes, as amended by this act.

(b) Not later than thirty days after the date the authorization of MMCT Venture, LLC, to conduct authorized games at a casino gaming facility is effective pursuant to section 14 of this act, MMCT Venture, LLC, shall pay to the state one million dollars for the initial costs to be incurred by the state to regulate the casino gaming facility. Such money shall be credited against unpaid required payments pursuant to subsection (c) of this section for the first full calendar year in which the casino gaming facility is conducting authorized games.

(c) Not later than thirty days after the date the casino gaming facility is operational and on a monthly basis thereafter while such casino gaming facility is operational, MMCT Venture, LLC, shall pay to the state: (1) Ten per cent of the gross gaming revenue from the operation of authorized games, except video facsimile games, which shall be deposited in the state-wide tourism marketing account, established pursuant to section 10-395a of the general statutes; (2) fifteen per cent of the gross gaming revenue from the operation of authorized games, except video facsimile games, which shall be deposited in the General Fund; and (3) twenty-five per cent of the gross gaming revenue from the operation of video facsimile games, which shall be deposited as follows: (A) Four million five hundred thousand dollars annually in the municipal gaming account, established pursuant to section 16 of this act, and (B) any remaining amounts in the General Fund.

(d) Not later than the date the casino gaming facility is operational and annually thereafter while such casino gaming facility is operational, MMCT Venture, LLC, shall contribute three hundred thousand dollars to the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.

Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established an account to be known as the "municipal gaming account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund established by section 3-55i of the general statutes. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Office of Policy and Management for the purpose of providing annual grants pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(b) On and after the date the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management finds that a minimum of four million five hundred thousand dollars has been deposited in the municipal gaming account pursuant to subsection (c) of section 15 of this act, the Office of Policy and Management shall provide an annual grant of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars to each of the following municipalities: Ellington, Enfield, South Windsor and Windsor Locks; and each of the following distressed municipalities: East Hartford and Hartford. The amount of the grant payable to each municipality during any fiscal year shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such grants exceeds the amount of funds available for such year.

Sec. 17. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any special act, charter or ordinance, the town of East Windsor may, by affirmative vote of a majority of the town's board of selectmen, enter into a written agreement with any party owning or proposing to acquire an interest in real property in the town, that fixes the assessment of (1) any such real property which is the subject of the agreement, and all improvements thereon or therein and to be constructed thereon or therein, and (2) all taxable personal property, whether owned or leased, to be located on such real property. Such agreement or any modification, renewal or extension thereof shall be for a period of not more than ten years. Such agreement may provide that the owner or lessee of such personal property is not required to submit a personal property declaration in the town during the period for which such agreement is in effect. The provisions of this section shall only apply if such real property, improvements and personal property are owned, leased or used in connection with a casino gaming facility, as defined in section 12-557b of the general statutes, as amended by this act. For the purposes of this section, "improvements" include the rehabilitation of any structure that exists on the effective date of this section and is rehabilitated for use by a casino gaming facility.

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