Connecticut has historically been opposed to sports betting within the state, and has taken the extra step to outlaw all online gambling inside of their borders.
Recent movement in the CT state legislature has indicated a favorable stance towards legal sports betting in Connecticut, and that traction has caused a major player in the online sportsbook industry to strike a deal with a casino in the Constitution State.
When US states begin the process of legalizing sports betting, it requires two rounds of consideration by lawmakers. The first round is to simply legalize it, and the second round is to determine what they’ll offer, where it will be allowed, minimum ages, and how the money will be divided.
Once a given state nears the end of the regulation phase, they begin to entertain offers from major sportsbook brands that want to set up shop once the opening date is declared. DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM are almost always amongst those early players.
CT appears to be nowhere near the finish line when it comes to regulating their own sports betting operations, and that is largely due to disputes from in-state Tribal interests.
Both Connecticut and its local tribes are interested in getting the ball rolling for sports betting, but until both parties can come to an agreement on a split, don’t expect to see construction begin on a Bridgeport sportsbook any time soon.
Despite the current state of sports betting infancy in Connecticut, that hasn’t stopped DraftKings from making a preemptive strike and forming a partnership with a local entity – the Foxwood Resort Casino.
The kicker is, the Foxwood Casino is a Tribal establishment, further indicating that they have full intention of taking part in the CT sports betting revenue.
“This is a landmark deal in collaboration with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as well as a critical next step to bringing America’s top-rated sportsbook app to sports fans in Connecticut… DraftKings today is live with mobile sports betting in 10 states, more than any other operator in the U.S., and teaming up with the tribe will allow us to extend our reach even further.”
Matt Kalish – Co-Founder and President of DraftKings North America
According to WFSB News, DraftKings is prepared to offer online sports betting as well as daily fantasy sports (DFS) to regional gamblers as soon as the green light is given by lawmakers.
Early projections suggest that upwards of $175 million can be taken in by the state over the first five years of domestic sportsbook operations.
Of course, with no time table for opening, area bettors will need to visit a local state with domestic sportsbooks, or simply travel outside of state lines to access the top online sports betting sites on the web.
Since CT has outlawed all online gambling (for now), we advise against accessing the online sportsbooks that we recommend while inside the state. Although we’ve never heard of anyone being arrested in Connecticut for the crime of online sports betting, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
These online sportsbooks will keep Connecticut bettors busy until state legislators and Tribal leaders get their heads together and come up with a fiscal agreement that makes sense for both interests.
DraftKings appearing on the scene is a good indicator that sports betting is on the horizon in CT, and we expect more major sports betting giants to make a move toward the Nutmeg State in the near future.
