Great news for all Connecticut folks is that by the end of 2021, they will be able to place sports bets from the comfort of their own homes. This necessitated by the fact that the state of Connecticut did resolve to legalize and regulate online sports betting activities in the state. Though there aren’t any sportsbooks that have gone live as yet in the state, it’s a guarantee that by year end, or even earlier, three sportsbooks will be live in the state.
Laws Relating to Online Sports Betting in Connecticut
The journey to legalizing online sports betting in Connecticut just like several other US states started in 2018 with the US Supreme Court ruling that legalized online gambling on a federal level. After the US Supreme Court decision, three bills were passed in 2019 all intending to fast track online sports betting activities. Namely, the three bills are the SB 17, SB 665 and HB 733. In 2020, two further bills came into the house with the same intention but unfortunately couldn’t pass that is, SB 21 and SB 212. A huge break did come in 2021 when the HB 6451 bill was passed which basically enabled new tribal compacts agreements between the state government and the gaming tribes. Owing to the compact’s agreement, the state of Connecticut did permit three gaming tribes including the state’s lottery to set up online sportsbooks in the state.
Current State of Online Sports Betting in Connecticut
At the present moment, online sports betting in Connecticut has been legalized but it hasn’t gone live as yet. The state is working tirelessly to officially launch online sports betting and they have earmarked October 7, 2021 as the official date to launch online sports betting in the state. The anticipated launch date will see all Connecticut punters free to place bets on round 5 of the NFL matches.
Frontrunner Sportsbooks Looking to Go Live in Connecticut
The compacts agreement that ushered in online sports betting in Connecticut means only three online sportsbooks will be able to go live in the state – at least at this present moment in time. These three are as follows:
- DraftKings: DraftKings will be able to operate in Connecticut thanks to its partnership with the Mashantucket Pequot which operates Foxwoods Resort and Casino
- FanDuel: FanDuel will go live in Connecticut courtesy of its partnership with Kambi
- Rush Street Interactive: Connecticut did reserve one slot for the state’s lottery board. The lottery board chose to partner with Rush Street Interactive
Top Retail Casinos in Connecticut
- Foxwoods Resort Casino
- Mohegan Sun
- Winners Waterbury
- Tanger Outlets Foxwoods
- Grand Pequot Tower at Foxwoods
Top NFL Sports Teams in Connecticut
Connecticut is one of those states that doesn’t have an NFL team. Rather, its safe to say that Connecticut has not hosted a pro team since 1997 when the NHL’s Hartford Whalers left the state. Owing to this, punters from the state will have to back NFL teams from other states once the online sportsbooks go live on October 7, 2021 in the state. If it is any solace however, the University of Connecticut in recent times has certainly been a force to reckon with both the men’s and women’s college hoops hence if college betting is permitted, then Connecticut punters can simply place bets for the University of Connecticut.