Connecticut is targetting the NFL season opener on Sept. 9 for the launch of its sports betting platforms, following the legislature's approval of the tribal-state sports betting compact. With the lucrative tri-state market in play, the stage is set for CT to become one of the most lucrative sports wagering markets in the United States.
Federal approval is in the hands of the Department of the Interior, now that Governor Ned Lamont has approved House Bill 6451. The gaming bill accounts for online and retail sports betting, with the Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan tribes, and the Connecticut state lottery overseeing the services. DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive have claimed the state's three sports betting licenses.
Bookmark this page to stay on top of the latest developments in Connecticut sports betting.
Population: 3.6 million
Legal age for sports betting: 21
Online sports betting: Coming soon
Retail sportsbooks: Coming soon
Sports betting revenue: N/A
Yes, although federal approval of its pact with two gaming tribes is pending. The 2021 agreement allows for mobile and retail sports wagering, while the Connecticut State Lottery will also offer its own mobile sports betting app.
The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Indian tribes entered into agreements with DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively. The Connecticut Lottery Corporation recently partnered with Rush Street Interactive to power their sports betting platform.
Keep track of the latest legal developments with our interactive state tracker.
In 2021, Connecticut legislators approved a gaming compact between the two gaming tribes and the state. The Department of the Interior is reviewing the agreement and if all goes well, CT will gain federal approval.
Review this timeline for a quick summary of Connecticut's sports betting history:
The NFL season begins Sept. 9, 2021, which has been bandied about as the ideal and earliest go-live date.
DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive were awarded Connecticut's three mobile sports betting licenses.
Persons 21 years of age and older can wager on sports, provided the federal government gives CT the green light.
Keep these tips in mind before placing your first sports bet in CT.
Legal ageSports betting in CT is restricted to individuals 21 and older.
Retail sportsbooksThe Connecticut State Lottery is set to operate 15 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, two of which must be based in Bridgeport and Hartford.
Mobile bettingCT bettors will be able to place wagers from their smartphones. Of the three online skins made available, two automatically went to tribal partners, while the third was reserved for the CT lottery.
Remote registrationThe sign-up process will be straightforward and can be accomplished entirely remotely. In Connecticut, online sports betting would capture a large portion of the tri-state market since many New York City commuters live in the Nutmeg State.
Within state bordersConnecticut and other states utilize geolocation tracking software to verify your precise location. While no CT residency requirement is in place, you must be physically present within the state's borders to place any wagers.
Taxable winningsConnecticut sports betting revenue is set to be taxed at 13.75%.
The tribal nations and the Connecticut Lottery, holders of the three state-issued licenses, will be taxed on gross revenues. Each company will pay an 18 percent tax for online gaming revenues during the first five years of operation, which creeps up to 20 percent in the years after.
Legal sports betting in CT is not quite ready to launch and its tri-state neighbors, aside from Rhode Island, are not viable alternatives. Rhode Island offers mobile and retail sports wagering, while New York is adding online wagering to its betting portfolio. Massachusetts' sports betting legalization efforts are gaining momentum.
The state's efforts to formally legalize and implement sports gambling look promising. Currently, the proposal allows for 15 retail outlets operated by the state lottery, with two tribal nations holding the other two licenses.
The expectation is for legal sports betting to get the green light in September 2021. If that comes to fruition, folks in Connecticut will gain the ability to place their first bets remotely (mobile) or physically (retail).
It would help if you did some independent research despite the limited number of authorized partners, currently limited to BetRivers, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Read several reviews and identify the bonuses offered by each operator.
CT sports bettors will have the option to sign up from anywhere within CT state lines from their mobile device. All prospective users are required to submit personal information and to verify their identity.
Online sports betting sites and sportsbooks attract players with various promotions. CT sportsbooks will undoubtedly do the same, teasing risk-free bets and deposit matches, among the more popular perks.
Once registered, you'll have to add real money funds to your account before any wagers can be placed.
The landscape is still coming into view, but legal sports betting sites typically employ a combination of the following types or methods: PayPal, credit card, debit card, bank transfers, PayNearMe, and others. Check with your financial institution if there are any obstacles to leveraging one of these payment methods.
CT bettors will gain access to the most in-demand or popular bet types, including moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, parlays, teasers, futures, and live bets.
Different betting lines will influence your decision-making. Don't forget to shop around before placing your first legal wager.
Processing times vary by the sportsbook, so check the terms and conditions or FAQs from each CT sportsbook. Keep in mind that fees may apply to any transaction, too.
Reading the odds American odds are the default for betting odds found at U.S. sportsbooks. The minus sign (-) designates favorites. Any number that follows indicates the amount you will have to wager to score $100 in winnings. In this example, -160 odds mean you need to risk $160 to win $100.
Underdogs are identified by the plus sign (+). That number signifies the amount you will win for betting $100. Odds of +110 indicate a bet of $100, which would net you $110 if the underdog takes the victory.
Use our odds converter if you wish like to view odds as fractions or decimals.
State lawmakers and the sportsbook operators are getting their proverbial ducks in a row. Until then, no legal sports betting takes place in CT. Despite the uncertainty of a launch date, we can report the following:
PoliticsAny political betting, including Presidential elections, is off-limits to CT bettors.
Entertainment award ceremoniesBetting on awards shows, such as the Oscars, is not permitted in CT.
EsportsIt is illegal to bet on esports in CT, but esports betting could soon be legalized and regulated.
Connecticut college sportsBetting on collegiate games is not prohibited, but restrictions include the inability to wager on in-state school teams. Bill 6451 prohibits bets on sporting events that have a team from Connecticut. However, bettors would be allowed to wager on tournaments that involve Connecticut teams, i.e., NCAA men’s or women’s basketball tournaments.
Backing your favorite franchise feels good, but it can cause serious damage to your bankroll. Reading over our how to bet guides can help with your due diligence.
State gambling laws permit two tribes, Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Indians, to operate Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun respectively. Both opened their doors in the mid-1990s, but the state has yet to legalize online gambling.
CasinoFoxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard and Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, operate on tribal lands by the Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe, respectively. Connecticut's two federally recognized tribes are in talks to open a jointly owned third casino in East Windsor.
Both casinos offer the most popular games, like slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat.
Online casinos are coming, now that Foxwoods has partnered with DraftKings, Mohegan Sun with FanDuel, and the CT state lottery with Rush Street Interactive.
PokerLarge poker rooms at both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun comprise the retail component. Each has partnered with an online betting operator, meaning digital versions of their products will come online too.
Horse racingThere are no longer any CT horse race tracks in operation, yet horse racing is legal in Connecticut. Online wagers for horse races across the U.S. and globe can be done via BetAmerica, TVG, or TwinSpires.
Off-track betting (OTB) facilities throughout the state may gain the right to offer online wagers under the terms of the new gaming agreement.
Daily Fantasy SportsFormer Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy legalized Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in 2017. DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo serve are the three major operators.
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) helps individuals and families impacted by problem gambling. CCPG administers Connecticut’s only 24-hour Problem Gambling Helpline, extending support by phone, live online chat, and text.
Voluntary exclusion programs restrict your access to gambling establishments. Additionally, sportsbooks provide players with the option to set deposit, wager, and loss limits.
Connecticut is inching toward legal sports betting and when they do, they’ll join this list of states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
In the absence of a regulated CT market, offshore betting may seem like an attractive value proposition. Registering with illegal sites places your funds and personal information at risk. We strongly encourage CT bettors to avoid the following websites at all costs.
Nearly. Bill HB6451 would allow the state's two tribes and the Connecticut Lottery to offer sports betting services, but no official launch date has been set. The Department of the Interior is reviewing Connecticut's sports betting legislation.
Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) manages the current gambling activity and that will include sports betting. The CT state lottery will gain oversight of its own product.
Anyone who is at least 21 years old is of legal age to gamble in either of Connecticut's two tribal casinos.
None. While the state has approved legal sports betting, federal approval is still required.
Zero online sportsbooks are operational in Connecticut.
Yes, but only online wagers on horse racing.
Yes, but only when sports betting in CT has been formally legalized. There shouldn’t be any restrictions when placing bets on professional sports teams based in Connecticut. Betting on in-state college teams will not be permitted.
Currently, no one in CT is allowed or able to place an online sports bet. Sports betting legalization will allow anyone who is physically located in the Constitution State — residents and visitors alike — to legally wager online.
The application process in Connecticut has concluded. Deals were struck with the state's two tribes and the state lottery, too. DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive were allocated the three mobile skins. Gov. Lamont signed the tribal gaming compact and granted the Connecticut Lottery permission to open one online sportsbook and as many as 15 retail locations.
With sports betting legalization pending, Connecticut does not have any sports gaming revenues to report.
Not yet. DraftKings, via their partnership with Foxwoods Resort and Casino, will launch as a sportsbook once final federal approval has been granted. The Boston-based operator was awarded one of the three mobile skins made available.
