Connecticut sports bettors got a taste of that sweet sportsbook freedom last week. With ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwood casinos, such events were supposed to be a mere prelude to the full roll-out scheduled for October 7th.
CT Commercial Sports Betting On Hold
On Wednesday, bettors would come to find that an October 7th launch was a promise that state officials simply could not keep. Kaitlyn Krasslet, a spokesperson for the Department of Consumer Protection, elaborated on the matter in an email to NBC Connecticut:
“We are working with the licensees to ensure their platforms are certified and in compliance with the regulations prior to launch. As such, no date has been set but we do not anticipate it to be a lengthy delay…”
Up to 13 retail locations along with multiple online sportsbooks were supposed to open on Thursday. In just a day’s notice, gaming officials pulled out and left residents with little explanation.
While the opening of CT’s two tribal sportsbooks may soften the blow of this delay, such restrictions and lack of clear information may be a deterrent for prospective sports fans.
How Delays Hurt The State
State officials had previously indicated that they were shooting for a September 9th kick-off, concurrent with the start of the NFL season. It was only in mid-September when officials were able to solidify the October launch.
This lack of timely communication may be detrimental to the state’s sports betting revenues. Because sports betting has been legal in CT for several years via offshore online sportsbooks, the incentive to bet with state-licensed operators is one of solidarity.
However, if the state cannot deliver safe and secure sportsbooks on time, residents have no moral obligation to bet locally. Especially considering that Connecticut’s Lottery Commission will dominate most of the market.
State-licensed sportsbooks are expected to bring several million in revenue, but this can only be accomplished if Connecticut can establish a sense of trust with its bettors. This can only be executed by providing the utmost transparency on sports betting progress.
Trust Is Key
Chances are, Connecticut gaming officials knew an October 7th launch date was impossible long before they announced the delays. If the state continues to operate on short-notice communication, it will lose patrons before commercial betting hits the market.
Since the state has yet to announce a new launch date, Connecticut sports bettors will have to just keep their eyes peeled for more information from local officials.
Nonetheless, CT residents should not be excluded from sports betting just because their government can’t get it right. Offshore sportsbooks are safe, legal, and secure, with some having been in operation for several decades.
For more information on legal sportsbook options, stick around and browse our site tabs.
Source: NBC Connecticut
