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Editor's Note: Sportech Venues operates the state's 14 off-track-betting facilities. The number of facilities was incorrect in an earlier version of this post.

That suggestion has fresh currency among legislators grappling with the bill that would allow the casino-owning Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to operate up to three “satellite” facilities in strategic locations around the state, chiefly along the Interstate 91 corridor north of Hartford.

“I think it would be a great site,” Sen. Tim Larson, the East Hartford Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee, said Thursday. “As much as we’re looking for international business out at Bradley — they’re doing some remodeling there … they have an isolated area that’s a natural traffic-generator — it would be suitable … Of course, it would be up to the people who run the airport and the people of Windsor Locks (where Bradley’s located).”

An airport casino would target a resort under construction in Springfield, Mass., the first of several out-of-state competitors expected to imperil jobs and revenues at the Connecticut gaming facilities.

Larson noted that the Mohegans, who own Mohegan Sun, announced this week that they’re pursuing a plan to develop a resort casino at Incheon International Airport in South Korea.

He also said he believes a casino development at Bradley should be “separate and distinct” from Bradley Teletheater, the off-track-betting facility adjacent to the airport that provides pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast horse racing, greyhound racing and jai alai.

“I’m in the airport business myself,” said Larson, a former East Hartford mayor who’s the executive director of the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport Authority.

A top airport official declined to discuss the casino-at-Bradley idea.

“We don’t have any comment,” Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said. “We’re certainly waiting to see what the legislature does. If the legislation opens the door for a casino at the airport, we would consider it.”

As the owner and operator of Bradley as well as five other airports in the state, including Groton-New London, the authority has a mission to promote aviation “and serve as an economic driver,” Dillon said.

Though the tribes have yet to publicly identify any potential casino sites north of Hartford, several north central Connecticut towns have made their interest in a casino known. Windsor Locks would be among those willing to host one, according to Rep. Peggy Sayers, a Democrat whose district includes the town.

“I would certainly support a casino coming to the airport,” Sayers said. “It’s an excellent location. We’ve got hotels with 1,500 rooms at the airport, and a captive audience. My concern is protecting the 125 jobs at the teletheater. We’d have to find a way that it doesn’t impact OTB.”

Ted Taylor, president of Sportech Ventures, the New Haven-based company that operates the state’s 14 OTB facilities, voiced a similar concern.

“If a casino opens up five miles away from me in East Windsor, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the impact on my business,” he said.

While the teletheater might lack the space to accommodate all that a casino might entail, including table games and slot machines, it could be adapted to such a use, Taylor said.

“Nowhere is there a building where you can walk into a new casino,” he said. “Wherever you put it, you’re going to have to go through various design and planning stages."

In addition to Windsor Locks, East Windsor and East Hartford also have indicated they’d be willing to host a casino. In Windsor, the town council has adopted a resolution opposing gaming facilities. In Enfield, the town council tabled action this week on a similar resolution.

A spokesman for the Mohegan Tribe declined to identify locations that the tribes have under consideration.

“It’s far too early in the process to talk about actual sites,” Chuck Bunnell, the tribe’s chief of staff, said. “The focus is on the passage of the legislation and the protection of jobs and revenue for the state. Certainly, there are numerous very nice locations along the I-91 corridor that would not impact any neighborhoods.”

In East Windsor, a former Showcase Cinemas building and a former banquet facility have been mentioned as potential casino sites.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck

This article was edited to correct the number of OTB facilities.