Retail Sports Betting Launches in Connecticut, Eight Days Away From Online Launch
Contents
On Thursday, September 30, the Department of Consumer Protection confirmed that the appropriate Connecticut state licenses had been approved for retail sports betting to begin in a limited capacity. Governor Ned Lamont visited both the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun and placed ceremonial first bets. Over the coming days and weeks, sports betting will gradually become more widely available at different retail sportsbooks throughout Connecticut. Online sports betting is scheduled to launch on October 7.
Connecticut Sports Betting Legal History
After the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Participation Act of 1992 in 2018, individual states set the stage to begin legalizing and regulating their sports betting markets. Connecticut’s Governor signed HB6451 into law on May 27, 2021, following approval in the Senate and House. HB6451 allowed three betting partners or “skins” in Connecticut with the Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and the Connecticut Lottery. Mohegan Sun is partnering with FanDuel Sportsbook, Foxwoods is partnering with DraftKings Sportsbook, and the Connecticut Lottery is partnering with Rush Street Interactive’s PlaySugarHouse.
Connecticut Sports Betting Rules and Regulations
HB6451, Connecticut’s enabling bill for new tribal gaming compacts including sports betting, laid out specific regulations for the state to follow including the following:
- Sportsbooks must pay a 13.7% tax on sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
- The sports betting licenses are good for ten years once approved
- Three online brands and fifteen retail sportsbooks were approved
Where You Can Bet in Connecticut
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, is starting its partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook today. Foxwoods now allows casino visitors to place bets at a temporary sportsbook located at the Ultimate Race Book in Foxwood’s Rainmaker Casino. Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, also launched limited sports betting offerings on Thursday with FanDuel Sportsbook. There was a ribbon-cutting at Bow & Arrow Sports Bar at 9:30 AM EST on Thursday. DraftKings and FanDuel are two of the leading sports betting providers in the country.
The Connecticut Lottery will be opening an additional 15 retail sportsbooks, 10 of which will be off-track betting sites in partnership with Sportech. Sportech’s status as an already operational gambling technology and services company will allow for a faster and more seamless launch. Sportech plans to take sports bets at Sports Haven in New Haven at some point next week, pending license approval and is planning to open sportsbooks at Bobby V’s in Windsor Locks and Stamford in the coming days. The rest of the ten Sportech locations will open gradually by mid-November.
Online Sports Betting in Connecticut
In the wake of the launch of retail sports betting in Connecticut, many individuals will be wondering when they can place bets from the safety and comfort of their own homes. On October 7, Connecticut’s three licensed online sportsbooks “skins” – DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and PlaySugarHouse – can launch their product offerings. At that point in time, residents in neighboring states Massachusetts and New York, both of which are in the early stages of their sports betting legislative processes, will be able to visit Connecticut to place online sports wagers.
