Connecticut Sports Betting Eyeing September 9th Debut
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After a tough road, legal sports betting in Connecticut is closer than ever before. Thanks to some recent developments, it appears that Connecticut is racing to the finish line so its residents can begin placing wagers in time for the kickoff of the NFL season. This means Connecticut sports fans will be watching closely as the final steps are made to make wagering in their state a reality. Here’s what you need to know about the future of Connecticut sports betting.
Connecticut Sports Betting Takes The Next Step
On August 31st, Connecticut got even closer to legal sports betting thanks to a legislative committee approving gambling market regulations for the state. The next step? Getting approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Department has to fully approve the adjustments to the agreements between the state of Connecticut and the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, the state’s two federally recognized tribal nations. Much like Arizona, another state with legal sports betting on the horizon, Connecticut requires approval from the state tribes for legalized sports wagering to become a reality.
The overall goal is to have everything set in place for September 9th, which just so happens to be the NFL kickoff date as the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off against the Dallas Cowboys. Additionally, that’s the exact date sports betting will officially become legal in Arizona. Both the tribes and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont would like to meet this date for legalization, a great sign for bettors across the state.
Connecticut Sports Betting’s Legal Past
Legalized sports betting in Connecticut has been a long time coming. The state has been fighting to secure legislation since 2017, even before the federal ban on sports betting was lifted. However, even after the ban was lifted in 2018, there was no significant action until 2020 with the introductions of S 21 and H51568, although neither made any lasting impact and dissolved after a few hearings. Finally, in 2021, SB146 passed, signaling an agreement with state tribes and a future involving retail sportsbooks, an online sportsbook, and an online casino. After a long journey, sports betting in Connecticut is looking to finally become a reality.
What About Daily Fantasy Sports in Connecticut?
If you’re wondering why daily fantasy sports hasn’t been mentioned in Connecticut’s sports betting legalization talk, there’s good reason for that. Daily fantasy sports has been legal in the state since 2017, despite all the troubles with legislation for online and retail sportsbooks. Since the legalization in 2017, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo have dominated DFS in Connecticut.
Who Will Connecticut Fans Bet On?
If everything falls into place, Connecticut fans will be able to bet on their favorite teams as soon as September 9th. While no pro teams call Connecticut their home, adjacent teams such as the New York Yankees, New England Patriots, and Boston Red Sox have found popularity with residents. Interestingly, the Connecticut sports betting bill allows college sports wagering but bans any in-school betting. So residents might be able to attend UConn games, but won’t have any way to bet on them.
