Tribe left out of Connecticut casino plan considers options for gambling on its reservation

The leader of the Schaghticoke (SKAT'-ih-kohk) Indian Tribe in western Connecticut says it may pursue a gambling hall on its small, nearly empty reservation alongside the Appalachian Trail.

Chief Alan Russell says he is frustrated at being left behind by a legislative proposal for as many as three new casinos to be operated by the tribes behind Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

He says the tribe feels compelled to look into bringing a bingo hall to its state reservation in the Berkshire Mountains town of Kent. The office of Connecticut's attorney general declined to offer an opinion on whether that's possible.

Dennis Jenkins of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation says it is hypocritical for state officials to embrace the idea of new casinos after fighting their bid for federal recognition.