Keep drinking limits

State lawmakers needed to support all reasonable steps to increase the ability of the state’s two tribal-run casinos to confront growing competition in neighboring states, in particular the opening of the MGM Springfield casino next month.

And after some unfortunate delays, the General Assembly did so, passing legislation allowing the tribes to jointly operate a casino in East Windsor. The intent of that third casino is to keep at least some patrons from the Greater Hartford area spending their entertainment and gambling dollars in Connecticut, rather than making the trip north to Springfield.

This newspaper has editorially supported this plan and opposed suggestions of seeking developers for a casino in Bridgeport; a diversionary delaying tactic pushed by MGM. We’ve criticized the delays in constructing the East Windsor casino due to legislative handwringing and federal-approval foot-dragging.

But while recognizing the importance of the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort casinos — operated by the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, respectively — for their job creation, entertainment value and the revenue they generate for the state, their latest push for extended hours to serve alcohol on gaming floors is unreasonable.

The push is meant to match the rules approved for MGM by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which will allow the serving of alcohol from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. in bars and restaurants, and until 4 a.m. on the gaming floor.

In Connecticut alcohol can be served until 1 a.m. weekdays, 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The state holds the casinos to these same rules that govern all alcohol-serving establishments.

Mashantucket leaders say they need the extended hours to compete, while the Mohegan tribe has expressed an interest, if not yet a definitive demand.

Later hours for casinos would pose unfair competition to other alcohol-serving operators in the state. It also raises the prospects of drinkers taking to the road after last call at local bars to head to the casino to keep drinking. Then there is the scenario of all-night drinkers hitting the roads as early-risers head to jobs.

Extended hours will produce more drunken driving, more problems and likely more tragedy.

If some gamblers insist on going to MGM just so they can drink into the morning, so be it. Let Massachusetts deal with that collateral damage.