Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today said he supports the state Division of Special Revenue's (DSR) decision to disapprove the PlayAway game to be played on the Foxwoods Resort and Casino web site because it violates state and federal law, as well as the gaming procedures, which govern the tribe's gaming activities.

Blumenthal said he is prepared to go to court to defend DSR's ruling, should Foxwoods resume the game or challenge the decision in court.

DSR, after reviewing hundreds of documents submitted by the tribe, found the game was illegal for several reasons, saying that it expands gaming off the reservation and may promote gambling to minors. The state also says that the game violates state law that prohibits interactive on-line lottery games, and misleads patrons into believing that they are actually playing games of chance such as slots and poker, while in reality PlayAway is based on keno, a lottery type game.

"This game is plainly illegal – it cannot be revived – and we'll enforce the ruling in court if necessary," Blumenthal said. "I respect the Tribe's sovereign rights and hope that Foxwoods will immediately agree to forego the game – continuing its cooperation and good citizenship on such issues. Gambling is permissible on the reservation, not on the Internet outside the reservation, where it can be a magnet for minors. We will continue to fight anyone who exposes or entices minors to gambling. I hope it is unnecessary – but am prepared to take appropriate, unprecedented legal action to enforce state and federal law."

PlayAway violates state and federal law, as well as the Gaming Procedures for several reasons, including:

• PlayAway will "have a material adverse impact on the public interest in the integrity of the gaming operations…"
• The game will have an adverse impact on the public interest because it promotes off-reservation gambling and gambling by minors.
• Connecticut prohibits interactive, on-line lottery games, including on-line video lottery games for promotional purposes.
• The game of PlayAway, occurring off the reservation, violates the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the Gaming Procedures, which expressly limit gaming to Indian lands.
• Internet gambling violates state and federal criminal laws including the Wire Act, the Travel Act, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act.