The state of Connecticut has a long history with gambling and has had legal casino gambling options since the 1990s, but legal sports betting is a relatively new activity for the state. Although the state has legalized sports betting, there is still some work that needs to be done before the market can go live. So what will sports betting in Connecticut look like? Let’s find out!
Is it legal to bet on sports in Connecticut?
Yes, sports betting is legal in the state of Connecticut, however, the activity has yet to launch.
In January 2021, lawmakers in the Nutmeg State filed a bill that would allow the state’s two gambling tribes, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes to offer online sports betting and online casino gambling in the state. Then in February, Governor Ned Lamont introduced a bill that would amend the existing state tribe gambling compacts to include online gambling.
Lamont went on to agree on new compacts with the two tribal gambling groups in March. The bill previously introduced by Lamont was eventually approved and signed into law in May.
Sports betting has yet to go live in the state but could launch before the end of 2021.
Where will I be able to bet on sports in Connecticut?
Once sports betting goes live in the state, residents, and visitors will be able to bet online via mobile sportsbook apps or websites hosted by the two tribes. Each tribe will operate one online betting product each, while a third will be operated by the Connecticut Lottery.
This makes for a total of three online sports betting products in the state of Connecticut.
Each of the tribes in Connecticut will also offer in-person sports betting at their land-based casinos in the state.
What sports will I be able to bet on?
Once sports betting gets off the ground, bettors in the state will be able to place legal bets on a variety of professional and amateur sports. Whether it’s the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, or international sports like Premier League soccer, there will be something for everyone to bet on.
What else can I bet on in Connecticut?
At a first glance, the state of Connecticut appears to offer a very small variety of gambling options, but when you look closer, it is clear that the state prioritizes quality over quantity. Although the state only has two tribal casinos conducting operations, these are two of the biggest casino names in the country, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. These two venues offer a variety of games including:
- Slots
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Sic Bo
- Bingo
| Casino Name | Location | Contact | Opening Hours | |
| Foxwoods Resort Casino | 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket, CT 06338, USA | +1 860-312-3000 | Online form | 24 hours |
| Mohegan Sun | 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382, USA | +1 888-226-7711 | [email protected] | 24 hours |
The state-run Connecticut Lottery also offers residents a variety of games which can be played to win real cash prizes. The state also permits charitable gambling activities such as
raffles and bingo games.
Online gambling is partially legal in Connecticut. Residents can place online wagers on horse racing events on TwinSpires.com and BetAmerica.com. These two sites are available in almost every US state that permits betting on horse racing. As an alternative to sports betting, residents can also play real money fantasy sports games online with either FanDuel or DraftKings.
According to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP): “The State of Connecticut and the Department of Consumer Protection do not authorize, license, permit, or
regulate in any manner any Internet gambling in any form. Under General Statutes of Connecticut Section 53-278a any gambling activity in Connecticut is illegal unless specifically
authorized by law. Neither the state legislature nor any state agency has approved any form of gambling on the Internet, including the purchasing of raffle tickets. Even if a gambling website is legal in another jurisdiction, such as a foreign country or another state, it is illegal to use that site to gamble from within Connecticut.”
It is worth mentioning that Section 53-278a is only the state’s definition of gambling. The law was not initially written to cover online gambling sites but the DCP says it falls under the same category.
The state has made attempts to expand its online gambling offerings in the past. In 2017 lawmakers attempted to introduce legislation that would allow the Connecticut Lottery to sell tickets online. The bill was unsuccessful and was dismissed the same year it was introduced.
As an alternative to online gambling, residents can play social casino games online. Both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun offer social casino platforms on their websites. The Mohegan Sun platform is a part of the Play4Fun network. You can also find the usual social casino platforms such as Slotomania, Zynga, Double Down Casino, and Big Fish in Connecticut.
Are offshore gambling sites legal in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut residents may not turn to offshore gambling sites to place their wagers online, as these are illegal in the state. But, aside from legality, we’d recommend steering clear of offshore gambling and sports betting sites because of the lack of regulation. This means they may not be secure or may not have measures in place to protect vulnerable players. You also have no way of knowing who is handling the money you deposit into these online accounts.
You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name. If you see a domain that ends in .EU or .AG it does not hold a license to operate in Connecticut
and therefore should be avoided at all costs.
Will it be safe to bet on sports in Connecticut?
Connecticut already has strict gambling laws, which means that state regulators are likely to implement a tight regulatory framework for sports betting. This regulation will ensure that sports
betting is safe in Connecticut. However, it’s also up to bettors to gamble responsibly so that betting remains fun and safe. If you’re worried that you, or someone you know, may be suffering from problem gambling, the National Council on Problem Gambling has a number of resources available. The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling also has various resources for people who may be suffering from a gambling problem.
You can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline via:
Phone: +1-800-522-4700
Text: +1-800-522-4700
You can contact the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling via:
Phone: +1-959-230-4034
Helpline: +1-888-789-777
Email: online form
Who regulates gambling in Connecticut?
Gambling in the state of Connecticut is overseen by the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). The DCP will also be responsible for overseeing the implementation of sports betting regulations in the future.
How old do I have to be to gamble in Connecticut?
To gamble in a casino, residents must be aged 21 and over, and to place pari mutuel wagers, residents must be at least 18 years old.
The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Connecticut
1971 – Horse racing, off-track betting, and the state lottery were legalized. Shortly after the legalization of horse racing a horse racing track called Connecticut Park was proposed for construction in the state. However, the track did not receive state approval and was never
Built.
1972 – Dog racing and jai alai were legalized. The same year, the state lottery began selling
tickets.
1976 – The state’s first off-track betting parlors opened for business. The same year two jai alai
venues opened for business in the state with one in Bridgeport and one in Hartford. Plainfield Greyhound Park opened for business in 1976.
1977 – Another jai alai venue opened for business, this time in the Milford area.
1983 – The Connecticut Lottery begins
1986 – Foxwoods opens its doors. The establishment was initially opened as a bingo room for small-scale gambling after the courts ruled that state bingo laws did not apply to venues
on sovereign land.
1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations
in place.
1993 – Foxwoods added slot machines to its venue, offering a new way for residents and visitors to Gamble.
1995 – The jai alai venues in Hartford and Bridgeport closed and ceased operations.
1996 – Shoreline Star Greyhound Park opened for business at the former Jai alai venue in Bridgeport.
1996 – The state’s second tribal casino, Mohegan Sun, opened its doors for business. Both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods would go on to become two of the biggest names in the casino
world.
2005 – Both of the state dog racing venues were closed down due to concerns over animal safety.
2008 – Thanks to a partnership between MGM and Foxwoods, a second tower was built at the Foxwoods venue and was opened as the MGM Grand. After the partnership ended in 2013, the tower was rebranded as the Fox Tower.
2017 – State lawmakers introduced and passed bill 6948, a bill that would allow the DCP to craft a regulatory framework for sports betting operations in Connecticut depending on the ruling of the Supreme Court case between New Jersey and the professional sports leagues. State lawmakers attempted to expand online gambling offerings by introducing a bill that would allow the Connecticut Lottery to sell tickets online. This bill was unsuccessful and failed shortly after it was introduced.
2018 – On 14 May, the Court reached a decision. In a 7 – 2 vote it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as its commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. In the weeks after the repeal of PASPA a number of US sportsbooks launched across the country.
2019 – An attempt to legalize sports betting was made but it failed to make significant progress.
2020 – In March Governor Ned Lamont voiced his support for sports betting by calling for a sports betting agreement between the state and tribes. At the time, two sports betting bills were being actively considered by the legislature but they both failed to progress.
2021 – In January, lawmakers filed a bill that would allow the state’s two tribal groups to offer online betting and online casino games. The bill, SB 146, marked the latest attempt to expand Connecticut’s online gambling market.
Then in February, Governo Ned Lamont included a forecast for sports betting and online casino gambling in his 2021 budget proposal. At the same time, Lamont filed a bill that would expand the tribal compacts with the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan tribes to include online casinos and sports betting.
The bill Lamont introduced would go on to become HB 6451.
In March, Lamont agreed on new amendments to the existing compact agreements with the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan tribes to include sports betting and online casinos
In May, the Connecticut Lottery kicked off an RFP to find an online sports betting partner. This provided an opportunity for one more sports betting business to enter the state. Later on, in May, the Senate passed HB6451 and if approved it would formally allow Lamont to renegotiate the existing tribal compacts.
Lamont signed the bill into law on 27 May, paving the way for online gambling in the state of Connecticut. However, before the revised compacts can come into effect, they must first be approved by the US Department of the Interior.
In June, the bidding period for the Connecticut Lottery’s online sports betting partner closed, leaving the Lottery to choose a suitable sportsbook operator to partner with.
Sports betting and online casino gambling are expected to launch in Connecticut in the coming months.
For more updates on online sports betting in Connecticut be sure to check back with Compare.bet US.
