Dreamstime/Muhammad Annurmal Less than a week after Connecticut launched online casinos and sportsbooks, one lawmaker who voted for the legislation has resigned.
State Rep. Michael DiMassa , D- West Haven , stepped down today amid accusations of gambling away allegedly misappropriated federal Covid-19 funds from February to September that were meant to help his former constituents. The timing of his departure cast a shadow over what a more positive announcement the same day: The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) opened its first retail sportsbook – at Sports Haven in New Haven.
Nothing in the accusations against DiMassa relates to online gambling specifically. However, the timing is unfortunate and creates some bad optics for the state.
DiMassa’s bio and contact pages had already been removed from the Connecticut General Assembly site before the 2 p.m. sportsbook opening.
Before Gov. Ned Lamont attended the ribbon-cutting, he released a statement about DiMassa: “The allegations against Mike DiMassa are serious and very troubling. If the allegations are true, he has not only broken the law but also betrayed the public trust. He had no choice but to resign. The citizens of West Haven and all of Connecticut deserve honest government.” Lamont then joined CLC and its retail sports betting partners – PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook by Rush Street Interactive (RSI); and Winners by Sportech Venues – at Sports Haven. PlaySugarHouse is also the CLC’s online sportsbook partner.
DiMassa himself is no longer allowed to participate in gambling in the state, including the online options he voted for.
The CT Mirror reported on Oct. 22: “In court, DiMassa claimed he was suffering from a gambling addiction, and a federal judge ordered him Wednesday not to place any online bets or step foot inside a casino after being released on $250,000 bail.” DiMassa allegedly gambled with Covid-19 aid money
Before today, DiMassa was both a state lawmaker and a municipal employee. Similar to the Connecticut General Assembly site, DiMassa’s information was gone this afternoon from the City of West Haven ‘s site. He had served there as an assistant to the West Haven City Council , but also resigned from that position today, WFSB […]
Click here to view original web page at www.onlinepokerreport.com
