CONNECTICUT SPORTS BETTING NOW SEEMS ON TRACK TO LAUNCH IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, IN TIME FOR SOME NFL BETTING

Connecticut sports betting is eyeing an October 7th launch in the state. This hopeful launch date for CT sports betting has been confirmed by the Department of Consumer Protection and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s office. And, the updated compact between the state of Connecticut and the Mohegan Tribe was published by the Federal Register a few days ago.

The updated compacts between the Mohegan Tribe and the state and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the state were both approved earlier this month by the United States Department of the Interior.

As of this writing there will be three online sportsbooks for Connecticut sports betting. They are:

• The FanDuel Sportsbook in partnership with the Mohegan Tribe
• The DraftKings Sportsbook in partnership with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• The PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook from Rush Street Interactive in partnership with the Connecticut Lottery

Both DraftKings and FanDuel will be able to offer an online sportsbook and an online casino in the state of Connecticut.

However, the Mohegan Tribe tried to be noncommittal when it came to the subject of a launch date a few days ago. They only remarked on the publication of approval by the Federal Register of the compact amendments. They indicated that this was a necessary and important step in their journey towards offering Connecticut sports betting.

The Mohegan Tribe indicated that it will be working with its partners and with the state to be able to launch sports betting as well as iGaming. They wish to do so in a manner that is appropriate and in the best interest not only of the tribe but of their organization, the state of Connecticut and its constituents.

They additionally indicated that they will have another announcement shortly in relation to the timing that these new offerings will be made available to their guests. But, they did not have a definitive date for this launch as of a few days ago.

The PlaySugarHouse brand from Rush Street Interactive in partnership with the Connecticut Lottery will only be offering Connecticut sports betting as of this writing.

However, an online casino option could potentially launch some day from PlaySugarHouse, Rush Street Interactive, and the Connecticut Lottery.

The Connecticut Lottery has the ability to operate up to a total of fifteen retail sportsbooks in the state. This includes venues in Hartford as well as Bridgeport. Rush Street Interactive was able to beat out four other proposals in order to earn their partnership with the Connecticut Lottery.

Back in March, the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the state of Connecticut updated their respective gaming compacts. It was two months later, in May, that legislators in the state passed Connecticut sports betting and online gambling legislation. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed this legislation into law on May 27th.

Then, in August, emergency regulations were approved by a legislative committee. Now, the federal approval of the compacts this past month has cleared the way for the October launch of Connecticut sports betting. The hope is that sports betting in the state will launch in time to be able to take advantage of some of the NFL betting season.

The launch of sports betting in Connecticut will make it the 27th state in the US to enact legal sports betting. CT online casinos will also become playable for residents.

Four states have launched sports betting this past month. They are:

• Wyoming sports betting
• Washington sports betting (in-person)
• Arizona sports betting
• South Dakota sports betting

In addition, Maryland sports betting and Louisiana sports betting are also potentially launching this year. Florida, too, is eyeing an October 15th launch date for their sports betting package this year as well. But, recent case filings in Florida could delay the launch of sports betting in the state.

Written by Allie Nelson, our US Sports Betting Industry Expert. You can learn more about our author's expertise here.