Connecticut Online Sports Betting - Now Legal and Live!
After Governor Ned Lamont signed the bill into law in May 2021, sports betting officially became legal in Connecticut. The Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans operate Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, respectively, and have long been a dominant force in both state politics and casino gaming. Both are now able to offer online sports betting in Connecticut, along with the CT Lottery. Online betting officially began in October 2021.
While the long road to legalized sports betting in Connecticut has come to an end, there is still a lot to unpack. Read on for more information about the state’s legislation, the two tribes’ exclusivity agreement, why Sportech is not happy with any of this, what it means for bettors, and which operators are now live in the Nutmeg State.
Update: Fanatics Sportsbook has replaced SugarHouse and is now available in Connecticut. This is great news for bettors in the state because Fanatics is one of the best new sportsbooks available today.
- 1 Best Sportsbooks in Connecticut
- 2 Connecticut Sports Betting Legislation
- 3 Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes
- 4 Connecticut Online Sports Betting Sites
- 5 Operators left out of Connecticut
- 6 Info For Connecticut Sports Bettors
- 7 Connecticut Betting Markets + Sports
- 8 Available Sports
- 9 Daily Fantasy Sports in Connecticut
- 10 Social Sportsbooks in Connecticut
- 11 Connecticut Gambling History
- 12 FAQ
Best Sportsbooks in Connecticut
Connecticut Sports Betting Legislation
Connecticut has two primary, federally recognized tribes that basically control casino gaming in the state. You’ve probably heard of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun; Foxwoods was at one point the largest casino in the country. It is now #2, followed by Mohegan Sun at #3 based on square feet of gaming space. Yes, they are both larger than every casino in Las Vegas. In case you’re interested, the largest casino in America is the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma, of all places.
Because of their influence in the state, the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans were always going to be given access to the sports betting market. Because of the tribal involvement in the state’s gaming market, everything had to go through the US Department of the Interior, which caused a small delay in the market launch. The other issues were setting up the tax rates, rules, regulations, and more. Everything has been sorted at this time, though, and Connecticut sports betting is a “go”.
What’s Included
Both the full House and Senate approved the legislative package in May of 2021, and was quickly signed by Governor Lamont into law. After the Department of the Interior rubber-stamped the compact, legal betting was able to launch in Connecticut on October 19, 2021. The compact and legislative package includes the following details about the sports betting regulatory structure:
- Three entities will be entitled to an online “skin” and will be authorized to operate an online sportsbook in the state
- Mashantucket Pequot Tribe
- Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut
- Connecticut Lottery
- The Lottery is authorized to operate 15 retail betting locations, which can be sublicensed to Sportech, the global company that currently operates Off-Track Betting locations in the state
- Gross revenue for online sports betting is taxed at 18%; retail is taxed at 13.75%
- Proceeds from the tax revenue will be used to fund a program that provides tuition-subsidized community college for young people in the state and a fund to aid small municipalities
- Consumer protections, including a self-exclusion requirement, parameters for advertising, and a list of those who are prohibited from gambling, such as college coaches and athletes
Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes
Since the two tribes are such a big deal in the state, let’s go over their influence on the legislation and how they are benefiting from legalized sports betting in Connecticut.
Foxwoods Casino, owned and managed by the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, is in eastern Connecticut. It’s closer to Boston than New York City, but is also an easy drive from many of the bedroom communities in the western part of the state. Mohegan Sun Casino, owned and managed by the Mohegan tribe, is also in the eastern part of the state, but slightly closer to New York City.
The location of both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun was very relevant back when they originally opened in 1992, because they were two of the only casinos in the entire eastern seaboard outside of Atlantic City. People came from all over to visit and gamble. These days, casinos are far more commonplace and sports betting is even offered in neighbouring Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The two massive casino resorts are still popular, but they don’t generate anywhere near the revenue they did back in the 1990s.
Enter CT sports betting
Both the state and the tribes are excited about Connecticut online sports betting and the revenue that it generates. The two tribes were instrumental in securing exclusive access to online skins and keeping competitors out. Their plan worked, and now the state tops out with just three online operators (two for the tribes, one for the lottery). While a geographically small state, CT has many eager sports bettors among its 3.5 million residents. A few state legislators argued for additional competition, but the tribal influence won the day.
The tribes have many allies in Connecticut politics and officials with the federal government generally defer to the sovereign nature of the tribes and almost always approve negotiated compacts – CT was no different.
Connecticut Online Sports Betting Sites
| Online Sportsbook | License Partner | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fanatics Sportsbook (formerly SugarHouse) | Connecticut Lottery | Oct. 19, 2021 as SugarHouse |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Mashantucket Pequot Tribe | Oct. 19, 2021 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Mohegan Tribe | Oct. 19, 2021 |
Fanatics Sportsbook – Connecticut Lottery
As mentioned, the third entity authorized to operate a mobile betting skin is the Connecticut Lottery. The lottery initially elected to partner with Rush Street Interactive, the gaming provider behind the SugarHouse and BetRivers brands. However, SugarHouse decided to break its contract with the state and leave the Connecticut market on March 31, 2023. In late 2023, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation named Fanatics Betting and Gaming as its new sports betting partner – insert Fanatics Sportsbook into the CT sports betting landscape.
Fanatics Sportsbook has now launched in a number of states since its late 2023 launch. Fanatics Sportsbook has already demanded a large market share of the sports betting industry since its inception, and things should not be any different in Connecticut. Nutmeg State bettors can also take advantage of a great welcome offer: Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets!
DraftKings Sportsbook CT – Mashantucket Pequot
The Mashantucket Pequot tribe owns Foxwoods Casino and now has an online sports betting skin through DraftKings. The tribe very quickly agreed to a partnership with the Massachusetts based DFS and sports betting giant.
DraftKings is basically everywhere when it comes to the regulated U.S. market and has established itself as an industry leader. Their sports betting mobile app is a smash hit from Colorado to Virginia, and is now a favorite in Connecticut.
FanDuel Sportsbook CT – Mohegan Tribe
The Mohegans announced in July of 2021 that they had partnered with FanDuel for both sports betting and iGaming when it comes to the state. It was expected that Unibet would get the deal, as they are partnered with the Mohegan Tribe in Pennsylvania, and Mohegan had a deal with Kambi, who provides date for Unibet, but FanDuel came forward with a better offer and, well, money talks.
FanDuel may have been even more motivated to make a deal as the new law states that Daily Fantasy Sports operators now need a license to operate in the state as well. So, the options were lose DFS in the state, or partner up and retain DFS and gain sports betting and casino. FanDuel and DraftKings have continued their rivalry that spans across all three verticals in virtually every legal state in the country.
Operators left out of Connecticut
Connecticut’s online sports betting market is now capped out with just three available bookmakers. The competition was fierce, but ultimately, for the time being, it’s going to be DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook (formerly SugarHouse) leading the CT charge. Other operators who lobbied for entry but ultimately didn’t find a way in include:
Info For Connecticut Sports Bettors
Sports betting has already landed in Connecticut and bettors now have options. What does this mean for you, the Connecticut sports bettor? Let’s break it down.
Three Online Sportsbooks in CT
Three online skins means that DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbook will be running the state’s betting market. This is better than a monopoly model like New Hampshire, but is still far from the open, competitive model of New Jersey. More competition is almost always better for bettors, but since negotiations appear to be done, this feels like as good as it’s going to get for bettors in Connecticut.
Launch Date: October 2021
Ultimately Connecticut’s sports betting industry came together a little sooner than expected. The state debuted retail betting on September 30, soft launched its online sites on October 12, and launched in full with online betting on October 19th, 2021.
Where You Can Bet in Connecticut
You can bet from your couch, kitchen table, car, desk, or anywhere else you want. If retail sports betting is more your thing, you can go to one of the 15 new retail sports betting establishments, including venues in Bridgeport and Hartford, that will be constructed. As long as you are in the state of Connecticut you can legally wager online.
CT Online Casino and Lottery
Bettors can also play casino games and even the Connecticut Lottery on their smartphones. The legislation legalizes casino games and lottery games along with sports betting.
Connecticut Betting Markets + Sports
In betting terms, a market is a type of wager available to bet on. If the Red Sox are playing the Orioles in baseball, for example, one market would be a spread bet while another would be the over/under. Market is a common term used to describe different types of bets. Sportsbooks offer dozens of different markets on every game, from prime-time NFL games to a regular Tuesday night Red Sox-Orioles game. The number of markets available has grown exponentially as the best sports betting apps compete to attract new customers by expanding their offerings.
Connecticut bettors have access to all of the following bets.
- Spread
- Moneyline
- Over/Under
- Prop bets
- Futures
- Parlay
- Round Robin
- Teaser
- In-game bets
Available Sports
Connecticut bettors are able to bet on a wide variety of sports. These include, but are not limited to:
- Australian Rules Football
- Baseball
- Basketball – NBA, NCAA and Overseas leagues
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Football
- Golf
- Handball
- Hockey – NHL and European leagues
- MMA
- Motorsports
- Rugby
- Snooker
- Soccer
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
Daily Fantasy Sports in Connecticut
Daily fantasy sports are another exciting option for users in Connecticut. As opposed to online sports betting, DFS games allow users to square off vs. each other through daily lineups. Basketball, football, hockey, and baseball are examples of popular DFS categories.
FanDuel and Drafters are a couple DFS sites available in Connecticut worth checking out. Visit our best DFS sites to learn more about the welcome offers for both platforms.
Social Sportsbooks in Connecticut
Online sportsbooks are now live in Connecticut. Yet, if new users are looking for a free alternative before forking over cash, social sportsbooks are a prudent option.
Social sportsbooks function in the same manner as online sportsbook but you don’t have to wager real money. This enables users to develop a firm grasp of their betting approaches prior to putting money on the line.
Learn more about top social sportsbooks in Connecticut through our Thrillzz Sportsbook promo code, Fliff Sportsbook promo code, and Rebet promo code pages.
Connecticut Gambling History
The history of gambling in Connecticut starts in 1971, when horse racing and off-track betting were legalized. Jai Alai and greyhound racing were added the following year, and retail gambling locations opened in 1976. There used to be several Jai Alai facilities in the state, but the last fronton closed down in 2001.
The recent history of gambling in the Nutmeg State began in 1986 when high stakes bingo games offered by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes became popular. This led to expanded casino games being offered by the tribes after their enormous casinos opened in 1992. Since then, millions have flocked to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun for casino gaming and entertainment. Though there are many more casinos and gaming options in the Eastern states than there were in 1992, the two tribal casinos remain the only retail casinos in Connecticut and two of the largest casinos in the entire country.
FAQ
Is sports betting legal in CT?
In short, Yes! The CT online sports betting industry officially started on October 19, 2021.
Can I bet sports online in Connecticut?
Yes! There are three entities authorized to offer mobile betting: the two tribes in the state and the Connecticut Lottery. There are three options for online betting: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook (formerly SugarHouse).
Are online casino games legal in CT?
Yes they are. Both DraftKings and FanDuel now offer online casinos in the state of Connecticut.
Why is it better to bet with a legal sportsbook?
Great question. Many people in Connecticut are already betting on sports using a neighborhood bookie or an offshore sportsbook. Would it be advantageous for them to switch to a legal, regulated sportsbook? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes because legal, regulated sportsbooks are licensed in the states in which they operate. This regulation covers many areas, but perhaps the most important being that all deposits, withdrawals, and bet payouts are guaranteed. Your cash is secure.
Put simply, your money is safe in a regulated sportsbook and you are able to withdraw it at any time, pending operator approval. Are customer deposits safe and secure at an offshore sportsbook or with a neighborhood bookie? One can hope, but there is no certainty that you will be able to withdraw your money in a timely manner. Using a regulated sportsbook is your best bet (pun intended).
Do Connecticut sportsbooks offer new player bonuses?
Of course they do! Virtually all sportsbooks offer a valuable new player sign-up bonus. Even though there are just three online bookmakers available in the state, they still need to compete for your business through enticing offers and promotions. Check out our list of the best available offers further up the page.