Upon state legalization and execution of an amendment to the Tribal/State agreement, DraftKings and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe will be poised to launch sports betting in Connecticut. Online gaming and sports betting are projected to generate $175 million in new revenue for the state over five years.

Though many other states are quickly moving to legalize sports wagering, Connecticut sports betting is lagging behind. Sports betting is still illegal in the Constitution State, though Governor Ned Lamont is currently working with local Indian tribes to find a compromise between their desire for gambling exclusivity and adequate sports betting competition.

The Connecticut Lottery and Sportech, which operates 16 pari-mutuel wagering venues in the state, would also be granted the right to offer live sports betting under the bill. The bill would also allow for a statewide mobile and online gaming platform that requires in-person registration. We are regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement as an Internet gaming operator in accordance with the Casino Control Act N.J.S.A. 5:12-1 and its implementing regulations.

For now, sports betting enthusiasts in Connecticut will have to wait and see how the situation develops. Sports betting is not likely to come to Connecticut until the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022 at the earliest.

Connecticut Sports Betting Recent Updates

After the PASPA was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2018, the Connecticut legislature quickly went to work on drafting sports betting legislation. However, it just as quickly ran into a roadblock from the Native American gaming tribes Pequot and Mashantucket. Both tribes currently operate the Mohegan Sun and Foxwood Resort Casinos, respectively. Desiring to keep gambling exclusive to their tribes, the prospective sports betting bills died on Connecticut’s Senate floor.

However, 2019 saw a further development when multiple bills were introduced to the Connecticut General Assembly to again propose legal sports gambling. The most important of these was proposed by Joe Verrengia, the Public Safety Committee Chairman. The bill would have given both tribes the right to offer sports betting in their casino locations.

Another bill to the General Assembly (a so-called “sweetener bill”) would have allowed the organization Sportech, which currently operates 16 pari-mutuel off-track betting locations throughout Connecticut, to offer sports betting as well. The bill stipulated that any mobile or online sports betting platforms would require in-person registration.

February of 2020 saw increased discussion about both of these bills and further sports gambling legislation hiccups, though neither was passed. Instead of legalizing sports betting, a new casino in East Windsor was approved.

The most important development so far came on December 7, 2020. The Mashantucket Tribal Nation announced that it and the large sportsbook operator DraftKings had reached an agreement enabling the latter to offer sports betting at the Foxwoods Resort Casino pending sports betting legalization.

In a nutshell, this cements DraftKings as the operator likely to launch sports betting first if and when this activity is eventually legalized in the Constitution State.

Review Of Top Sports Betting Sites

While sports betting isn’t yet legal in Connecticut, there are multiple top-tier sportsbooks that are likely to launch should its Lottery be allowed to accept applications for licensure.

FanDuel Sportsbook (9/10)

• Opening Bonus: $1000 risk-free bet
• Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
• Partnerships: N/A
• Key Features: Search bar, multiple odds formats, DFS
• Ways to Deposit: Electronic wallets (i.e. PayPal or Skill), credit/debit cards, PayNearMe, bank transfers

FanDuel is one of the largest and most well-known operators for American sports betting. It provides daily fantasy sports already, too, making it a great choice for general gambling enthusiasts.

It has a slick and streamlined app, plus the ability to change the format of your odds. Additional special promotions and a useful search bar located at the bottom of the screen make this one of the most enjoyable and user-friendly apps on the market.

DraftKings Sportsbook (9.5/10)

• Opening Bonus: Five $5 bets + 20% deposit match bonus up to $1000
• Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
• Partnerships: Foxwoods Resort Casino
• Key Features: DFS, mobile-only wagers, fast-access betting slip
• Ways to Deposit: Electronic wallets, credit/debit cards, PayNearMe, bank transfers

Of all the potential sportsbooks to launch in Connecticut, DraftKings is the most likely by far since it has already reached a deal to offer retail sports betting with the Mashantucket Indian Tribe’s casino.

That’s a good thing since it’s one of the best apps in the industry, including mobile-only wagers, a super generous opening bonus, and even eSports betting markets (a rarity in the industry so far).

BetRivers Sportsbook (8.5/10)

• Opening Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $250
• Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
• Partnerships: N/A
• Key Features: “Live Right Now” wagering offers, sports newsfeed, live streaming
• Ways to Deposit: Electronic wallets, credit/debit cards, PayNearMe, bank transfers

BetRivers has a minimalist app without the clutter or advertisements common to lesser sportsbooks. It also has one of the best loyalty programs in the industry, plus special “live right now” wagers that will take you immediately to certain live streaming games so you can make wagers in the middle of the action.

PointsBet Sportsbook (8.3/10)

• Opening Bonus: $500 risk-free bet
• Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
• Partnerships: N/A
• Key Features: Pointsbetting, live streaming, search bar
• Ways to Deposit: Electronic wallets, credit/debit cards, PayNearMe, bank transfers

An app with a special spread betting option called “pointsbetting,” the PointsBet mobile sportsbook is a newcomer to the industry that nonetheless offers excellent wagering opportunities for longtime sports bettors.

BetMGM Sportsbook (7/10)

• Opening Bonus: $500 risk-free bet
• Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
• Partnerships: N/A
• Key Features: Special betting offers, rewards program, international betting pools
• Ways to Deposit: Electronic wallets, credit/debit cards, PayNearMe, bank transfers

The BetMGM mobile sportsbook is an international offering that comes with extensive betting pools and markets, particularly for foreign sports leagues. Add to that a smooth, user-friendly interface and special daily bets and you’ll find it’s a well-rounded option with a lot to offer, even if some other apps are a bit better in terms of technical function.

Plus, it already has deals with some of Connecticut’s major league sports teams. This may make this app one of the operators most likely to launch as soon as sports betting is legalized.

All Connecticut Sportsbook Sites

Sportsbook	Bonus Offer	Local Partner	Launch Date
DraftKings	Five $5 free bets + 20% deposit match up to $1000	Foxwoods Resort Casino	N/A
FanDuel	$1000 risk-free bet	N/A	N/A
BetRivers	100% deposit match to $250	N/A	N/A
PointsBet	$500 risk-free bet	N/A	N/A
BetMGM	$500 risk-free bet	N/A	N/A

How To Place A Bet In Connecticut

When Connecticut eventually legalized sports betting, the exact wording of its legislation will determine how people will be able to register for a mobile sportsbook. This will affect how easy it is to place a bet in Connecticut.

Choose A Sportsbook

No matter what the legislation says, future sports bettors will eventually need to choose a sportsbook. Fortunately, every state that has legalized sports betting so far has had a lot of great operators bring their apps to their residents shortly thereafter.

Choose a sportsbook by examining what they offer, the kind of odds and betting markets they provide, and what the opening bonus is so you can enjoy the maximum amount of free betting credit right off the bat.

Download Your App

After picking a sportsbook you want to try, you’ll need to search for it depending on your platform.

iPhone users can quickly and easily search for the sportsbook of their choice on the App Store. Then they can download the app straight from that platform. Installation should begin automatically

Android users will need to instead search for the sportsbook of their choice using Google. The Google Play store on their phones or tablets will not allow any damn when apps to be downloaded.

After finding the sportsbook website, Android users can then download the app directly from the site. Installation should also begin automatically after granting the website permission on your mobile device.

Register On The App

Registration is where things make it tricky. Depending on Connecticut’s future sports betting legislation, sports bettors may be required to visit a retail casino to complete the registration process. In this case, their only option might be the Foxwoods Resort Casino, where DraftKings is due to offer retail sports betting.

Regardless, players will need to provide their mobile sportsbooks with personal information to verify their identity. This includes information like your Social Security number, date of birth, and physical address.

The app will verify your address is within Connecticut’s borders and install geolocation software to prevent you from using the app outside Connecticut. If Connecticut’s future legislation doesn’t require in-person registration, you’ll be all set after this point.

Place Wagers

Once your registration is complete, you can immediately start placing wagers and exploring the app you downloaded. Don’t forget to take advantage of any opening bonuses or special offers you might qualify for.

Connecticut Legal Sportsbooks

Although it can be frustrating to wait for sports betting to be legalized in Connecticut, it’s never a good idea to make an account with or give your money to an offshore or illegal betting site.

In a nutshell, offshore sites aren’t regulated or overseen by any authoritative body. This means no one prevents them from taking your personal information or cash and doing whatever they want with it. Furthermore, offshore sites don’t usually have good digital security, placing your personal information more at risk.

Licensed and regulated sportsbook apps have excellent digital security. When Connecticut finally legalizes sports betting, any licensed apps will also be beholden to the Lottery, which can perform an investigation on behalf of players if there’s ever a discrepancy with winnings or withdrawals.

Granted, this does mean that you’ll need to pay taxes on any winnings you get from sports betting (though the tax rate isn’t yet set). Sportsbooks themselves will also need to report their winnings and profits to both the state government and the IRS so they can pay applicable taxes and fees.

Overall, though, it’s a much better idea to wait for legalization to come to Connecticut than it is to risk your personal information and money with an offshore, illegal sports betting site.

Connecticut Sports Betting Revenue

At the time of this writing, Connecticut sports betting revenue is up for speculation. However, we can make some educated assumptions based on current statewide deals for casino and other gambling activities through the licensed Native American tribes.

For example, long-standing gambling agreements already have both the Pequot and Mashantucket Indian tribes provide 25% of their slot revenue to the state government. Since this agreement’s inception, it’s resulted in over $8 billion in state revenue (or $270 million annually), and this number will only grow once sports betting is fully legalized. Both tribes get exclusive gambling rights in exchange.

In fact, online gaming and sports betting combined are projected to generate as much as $175 million in revenue over five years.

Connecticut may scramble to provide online sports betting faster than brick-and-mortar betting. That’s because states that already have sports betting legalized see more than 80% of their sports betting revenue coming from online apps. It’s simply easier and more convenient for people to place wagers from the comfort of their own homes.

How Connecticut Compares To Other States

Lots of nearby states in the Northeast have already legalized sports betting, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Both of the states have relatively relaxed sports wagering rules, with both of them allowing in-state collegiate sports betting.

This has, as well, generated a significant amount of income for those states’ governments.

Compared to these options, it’s likely that Connecticut will follow in their footsteps rather than pursuing a stricter sports wagering agreement like in New Hampshire. Furthermore, Connecticut has a large population of sports fans who are ready and willing to follow their teams to success and place wagers on their games.

This will likely incentivize Connecticut’s legislature to make sports betting as accessible as possible. Time will tell how the exact sports betting legislation for this state pans out. It’s also still too early to tell whether Connecticut will require in-person sports betting registration at a retail casino, though currently, only a few states (such as Illinois) have this requirement.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on casino operation, Connecticut may opt to avoid in-person registration requirements in case another pandemic occurs in the future.

Connecticut Betting Successes And Failures

Connecticut Sports Betting Success

So far, Connecticut hasn’t legalized sports betting and doesn’t have many successes to speak of.

However, it has allowed pari-mutuel greyhound and horseracing for a few decades without any major hiccups. These activities are regulated by the Connecticut Lottery, which oversees all the gambling activities within the state, such as the titular lottery.

All of this indicates that Connecticut will likely be able to launch online and retail sports betting without too many issues. Furthermore, preliminary deals, such as the one made between DraftKings and the Foxwoods Resort Casino, indicate that operators will jump on any potential licensure application ASAP.

Put another way, as soon as sports betting is legalized, we can expect operators to start the process for licensure. The time between legalization and sports betting launching could be as little as six months depending on how quickly the Connecticut Lottery gets its rules and regulations down.

Where Could Connecticut Improve Online Gambling

For now, Connecticut could primarily improve by legalizing online gambling in the first place. No online gambling activities are permitted save for pari-mutuel betting for horseracing and greyhound racing.

Any Connecticut residents who want to participate in sports betting have to go to nearby states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Furthermore, they can’t use any of the apps from those states since all licensed sportsbooks have geolocation software built-in by default to prevent out-of-state use.

Legalization Efforts In Connecticut

The effort to legalize sports betting in Connecticut has been relatively long and winding compared to states that got their legislation passed quickly. Once the Supreme Court ruled that the PASPA was no longer in effect, legislators in Connecticut immediately began to push for sports betting legalization.

But even with then-Gov. Dannel Malloy signing a gaming expansion in 2017 that allowed the construction of a third casino in East Windsor, the two big Native American tribes in Connecticut – the Pequot and Mashantucket tribes – pushed back against sports betting legalization.

That’s because both tribes have enjoyed a duopoly on gambling activities within the state so far. They’ve been reluctant to make any concessions, which has led to something of a standstill. Connecticut’s state government has pushed for sports betting laws that would allow for adequate competition.

Discussions have continued with Gov. Ned Lamont, although this Governor has also gone on record stating that he would prefer to legalize sports betting alone, rather than bring other forms of online gambling to the mix (such as online casino games or poker).

Fortunately, efforts to reach an agreement with both Native American tribes have begun to see some traction throughout 2020. With the DraftKings agreement with the Foxwoods Resort Casino, it seems likely that both tribes will reach a compromise with Connecticut’s state government regarding sports betting so long as they are guaranteed a big part of the rights to offer the activity.

Timeline Of Connecticut Sports Betting

Draftkings Sportsbook Connecticut

• 2017 – Connecticut state government passes a bill legalizing the construction of a third casino in East Windsor and allowing for future sports betting should federal bans be overturned
• May 2018 – the US Supreme Court strikes down the PASPA and allows states to set their own rules regarding sports betting
• 2019 – the Connecticut state government proposed several bills to push for sports betting legalization. They were pushed back by the Native American tribes
• Dec 7, 2020 – DraftKings and the Mashantucket Tribe agree that the former will offer sports betting at its Foxwoods Resort Casino, should sports betting eventually be legalized
• Dec 13, 2020 – DraftKings offers daily fantasy sports through Foxwoods Resort Casino

Connecticut Teams

Connecticut Professional Sports Teams

Unlike states such as Virginia, which don’t have any of their own professional sports teams on which to wager, Connecticut sports bettors will have options provided sports betting eventually comes to their state.

Indeed, Connecticut is home to one of the most well-known WNBA franchises: the Connecticut Suns. They play games at the Tribal Mohegan Sun Arena. As you might expect, this could lead to easy partnerships between sports betting and the Pequot Tribe once legalization occurs.

But there’s also the New England Black Wolves: Connecticut’s national lacrosse team. They play home games at the exact same stadium and, even better, they already have a deal with BetMGM to provide sports betting across state lines. Thus, should BetMGM eventually launch, you can expect them to have excellent betting markets for the cross.

Because Connecticut is pretty small, residents will also be able to enjoy wagers for close professional sports teams from other states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. But lots of Connecticut residents are already fans of Boston franchises, including the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, and more.

Fanduel Sportsbook

All in all, Connecticut sports bettors will likely have plenty of excellent choices and deep betting markets to explore once sports betting launches over the next year or so.

Connecticut College Sports Teams

Things could get a little tricky when it comes to college sports.

Many states place a variety of restrictions on college sports betting. For example, most states won’t permit prop bets or live, in-game betting on college games. Other states, like Virginia and New Jersey don’t allow betting on in-state college teams. There aren’t any indications so far that Connecticut will follow this route, though it’s always possible that any future legislation could include a provision for these restrictions.

If that’s the case, Connecticut residents won’t be able to wager on any in-state collegiate teams, which would be a huge downside. However, out-of-state collegiate sports betting will likely still be allowed.

In the meantime, Connecticut sports betting enthusiasts can hope for the best and that Connecticut will be more like nearby New Jersey, which does allow collegiate sports betting. If this comes to pass, they’ll be able to place wagers on teams like the Connecticut Huskies, which is the most popular Division I team in the state.

Additional college sports teams likely to benefit from sports betting include the Central Connecticut Blue Devils, Yale Bulldogs, and Fairfield Stags.

Other Sports To Bet On In Connecticut

Alongside the classic sports betting options described above, players can already enjoy off-track betting in Connecticut. This allows sports betting enthusiasts to place wagers on both greyhound and regular horse racing at 15 pari-mutuel locations. This activity has been legal since 1976.

Ultimately, the future of Connecticut sports betting looks bright, provided the requisite legislation actually passes the House and Senate eventually.

Connecticut Sports Betting FAQs

No. However, sports betting may be legalized either in 2021 or by the beginning of 2022 depending on how quickly the governor, state legislature, and local Native American tribes get along. Serious compromises will need to be made to pass significant sports betting legislation anytime soon.

Yes, if it’s officially licensed and regulated. That’s because licensed online sportsbook apps must have excellent security for their users to be licensed in the first place, plus insurance in case they’re ever hacked by a cybercriminal.

Furthermore, licensed and regulated sportsbooks are overseen by a regulatory body like the Connecticut Lottery. This provides players with an avenue to report issues or concerns should they suspect a sportsbook is ripping them off.

Not yet. However, DraftKings is likely to be one of the first legal sportsbooks in the state because it already has an agreement with the Foxwoods Resort Casino, pending official legalization from the state government. If it’s already planning on offering retail sports betting, it’s likely that DraftKings will also offer online sports betting at the same time.

Not yet. As DraftKings’ closest competitor and a huge sportsbook operator in its own right, FanDuel is more than likely to launch in Connecticut as soon as sports betting overall is also legalized. However, FanDuel will likely come after DraftKings because it does not yet have a partnership with a brick-and-mortar casino.

Yes. Any future Connecticut sportsbooks will install geolocation software and require you to have a physical Connecticut address to complete registration. This will ensure that only Connecticut residents can use licensed Connecticut sportsbooks.

Connecticut will likely have a wide variety of sports and events for players to wager on. These include staple professional US sports leagues, such as the NFL, NHL, NBA and WNBA, MLB, and more.

But Connecticut is already home to pari-mutuel horse racing and greyhound racing across a variety of locations within the state. Sports betting will likely expand these options and possibly allow you to place wagers online from the same app.

More Resources On Connecticut Sports Betting

Draftkings Sportsbook Connecticut State

• Connecticut Lottery, where individuals can learn more about gambling regulation within their state
• Connecticut Mirror, a newspaper with regular sports betting news

A year before the Supreme Court overturned the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) to set the precedent for legalized sports gambling, the Connecticut legislature passed a bill to prepare for such an event.

The bill established the regulatory structure for sports betting and became active once SCOTUS ruled in favor of New Jersey on May 14, 2018, allowing for individual states to legalize sports gambling.

However, the Connecticut legislature adjourned on May 9, 2018, and Gov. Dan Malloy’s call for a special session did not lead to any resolution, as the 2018 legislative session closed without a formal vote.

Dissent from the Native American gaming tribes (Mashantucket and Pequot) that run the massive Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos is the most significant stumbling block preventing the creating of a comprehensive bill on sports gambling. Legislators need tread lightly on the issue because violating the compact with the tribes could cost the state 25 percent of slot machine revenue, which translates to more than $250 annually.

Early in 2019, several bills were introduced to the General Assembly proposing the legalization of sports gambling.

The bill proposed by Public Safety Committee Chairman Joe Verrengia would give the tribes the right to offer sports gambling in their casinos. The Connecticut Lottery and Sportech, which operates 16 pari-mutuel wagering venues in the state, would also be granted the right to offer live sports betting under the bill.

The bill would also allow for a statewide mobile and online gaming platform that requires in-person registration. It would create an estimated $30 million in tax revenue from a 10 percent tax on gross revenue.

What still needs to happen?

While the bill seems friendly and the tribes are reportedly working with state officials on the subject, Connecticut appears to be a long way from officially legalizing the industry.

During a February legislative session that lasted nearly 11 hours, sports betting was not at the top of the item list. The legislature instead focused on the question of creating a third casino in East Windsor. Furthermore, concerns that the individual interests of the tribes, state lottery, and other investors are divergent seemed to prevent legislators from rushing into the approval of a bill.

In a March session, legislators passed two bills that would allow sports betting to be conducted by the entities listed above.

Draftkings Sportsbook App

Yet the details are subject to change and the prevalent belief is that the bill has again been put on the back burner. However, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz says that the matter could be sent to a special session.