The opening salvo in a border war over casino gambling is being fired Tuesday in Connecticut.
A public hearing is scheduled at the state capitol in Hartford on legislation that would permit more casinos in Connecticut. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods would jointly operate new casinos that would be strategically located to keep gamblers from traveling to Massachusetts and New York.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby says the Baystate legalized casinos in large part to keep gamblers closer to home.
"There has been something like a $1 billion a year that has gone to other states that we just hope to recapture," he said.
Massachusetts will open its first casino with slot machines only in June. Las Vegas-style casinos with hotels will open in Springfield and the Boston area in 2017.