The Connecticut legislature has taken a tentative step toward expanding casino gambling.
The Connecticut House early Friday morning approved a bill that permits the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal nations to enter negotiations with communities interested in hosting a casino.
The bill passed the Senate earlier.
The two tribes, that currently operate casinos in Connecticut, are hoping to develop a casino in the I-91 corridor to compete with the MGM Springfield resort casino.
Mass. Governor Charlie Baker said he has confidence in the MGM project.
"There are limits to what we can control in respect to what Connecticut does, but the MGM proposal is a terrific project for Springfield and very well located to support the region," Baker told reporters Thursday.
The Springfield casino is scheduled to open in the fall of 2017.
