The State of Connecticut ordered Foxwoods Casino to immediately halt its new \’PlayAway\’ online game, saying it violated internet gambling laws and illegally expanded gambling off the Indian reservation.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Gaming Commission pulled the game on Friday, but members didn\’t believe there is any legal basis for a cease and desist order from the state Department of Special Revenue and announced plans to restart it on August 2.
PlayAway requires gamblers to purchase tickets at the casino. The tickets have an access code that allows to logon a website and play a game that simulate card games and slot machines. Winnings can only be collected back at the casino where the outcome of the game has been pre-determined by a computer.
Foxwoods claims it isn\’t internet gambling because the actual action takes place at the casino and there is no action that can be taken on the website that can impact the outcome of the game.
“The fact that the results are determined on the reservation, before the tickets are bought, would make no difference to the legality of the game,” said Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
Blumenthal, which has asked Foxwoods for additional information about the online game, said there are specific actions he can take if the game goes back online but for now he\’s relying on the good faith of the tribe.
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