US: No online gambling in Connecticut, says Senator McKinney

"There has been widespread misinformation and misinterpretation of online gambling," said McKinney, at a press conference on Wednesday. McKinney is holding to the belief that online gambling remains illegal under federal law, a notion that the Department of Justice dispelled in an opinion released around Christmas.

Governor Dannel Malloy acknowledged earlier this year that the Justice Department ruling opened the door for states to regulate online gambling, and the governor expressed a strong interest in Connecticut being one of the first states to do so. McKinney's remarks this week show that the legislators are divided on the law, but Malloy representatives believe McKinney was simply grandstanding for the cameras.

"Another day, another press conference by Senator McKinney to criticize the governor," said Senior Advisor Roy Occiogrosso. "It's pretty much all he does. The Justice Department decision makes clear that online gaming will eventually reach Connecticut. Governor Malloy is concerned about protecting jobs and revenue that are tied to the gaming industry, and looks forward to having a public dialogue on the issue in the coming weeks and months."

Connecticut is one of a handful of states looking to become the first in the nation to offer online casinos to their residents. New Jersey and Nevada appear to be the frontrunners to make that happen, especially now that the Washington DC City Council has voted in favor of a bill that would overturn their preview law allowing online gambling.