State of Play in Connecticut
Sports Betting in Connecticut
Online gambling is legal in Conneticut. There are three lincensed operators in the state: the CT Lottery, DraftKings and Mohegan Sun.
Legal online gambling options include sports betting, casino games, and daily fantasy sports.
Online poker is legal in Connecticut, but no sites have launched yet.
Sportsbooks in Connecticut
Q&A
- Is DraftKings Offering Sports Betting Apps In Connecticut? Yes, DraftKings is one of three online sports betting apps that is available in the state of Connecticut. DraftKings has partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and that has allowed it to offer both online and retail sports betting options.
- Is FanDuel Offering An Online Casino App In Connecticut? Yes, online casino gambling is legal in the state of Connecticut, and FanDuel is one of the legal options. FanDuel might be most known for DFS and online sports betting, but it has jumped into the online casino game as well. In order to receive a license in Connecticut, FanDuel inked a partnership with the Mohegan Indians.
- Is The Barstool Sportsbook App Available In Connecticut? No, the Barstool Sportsbook is not available in Connecticut, even though this company has made a strong push over the last 24 months. Barstool is owned and operated by Penn National Gaming, and there are no real ties to the state of Connecticut.
- Can I Bet Anonymously At Connecticut Legal Betting Sites? No, if you are going to bet at any of the Connecticut legal betting sites, then you will have to first sign up for an iGaming account. This is a simple process that can be completed in a matter of minutes, and you will have to be signed in before making a bet.
- How Do I Get Paid When I Win At Connecticut Legal Betting Sites? If you are lucky enough to win some money at legal betting sites in Connecticut, then you will deal with those sites directly when looking for a payout. Each site will have its own banking department, and it will be free to offer up its own banking options.
Methodology
Connecticut Online Betting
Online sports betting in Connecticut launched on October 19, 2021, following a week-long soft-launch period.
Governor Ned Lamont favored making online sports betting legal. Still, he had to work with the legislature, the Connecticut Lottery, and the gaming tribes to get it done.
The passage of HB 6451 gave Lamont power to negotiate new gaming compacts with Connecticut’s two gaming tribes, paving the way for online sports betting. Once the state reached deals with the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan Indians, the path to Connecticut sports betting crystallized.
Both tribes can offer online and retail sports betting on-site at their casino locations. In addition, the state approved the Connecticut Lottery to offer an online sportsbook and set up sports betting kiosks throughout the state.
Connecticut Sports Betting Key Details
Below are the details for the Connecticut sports betting market.
- Legalization Date: May 2021
- Retail Launch Date: September 2021
- Mobile Sports Betting Launch Date: October 2021
- Age Requirement: 21+
- Retail Sports Betting Tax Rate: 75%
- Mobile Sports Betting Tax Rate: 75%
- College Sports Betting Restrictions: Betting On In-State Colleges Prohibited
Which Legal Sportsbooks Are Available In CT?
There are just three online sportsbooks offered in partnership with Connecticut tribes and the CT Lottery:
- DraftKings Sportsbook – Foxwoods Resort Casino
- FanDuel Sportsbook – Mohegan Sun Casino
- SugarHouse Sportsbook – CT Lottery
Since there are just three options, each has had early success in the Connecticut market. That isn’t surprising, as all three are well-known and trusted names in the sports betting world.
These operators offer mobile betting apps to anyone within the state’s borders. Bettors do not have to be Connecticut residents to create an account or place a wager, but they do have to be inside the state physically to place bets.
The fact that there are just three online sports betting options in Connecticut is unique compared to other states. Most other states have attempted to push for a wide range of options, but the tribes won’t let that happen in Connecticut.
Top Connecticut Online Sportsbooks
Connecticut Retail Sportsbooks
Bettors looking for a more social experience or desiring to place a wager on a sporting event at a retail sportsbook will need to visit one of the state’s tribal casinos.
The Mohegan Sun offers a FanDuel Sportsbook on-site, while DraftKings has a permanent sportsbook established at Foxwoods Casino, a property of the Mashantucket Pequot.
The Connecticut Lottery does not have a casino property but will establish retail sportsbooks throughout the state. However, these sportsbooks are self-service kiosks. The CT Lottery can select up to 15 retail sportsbook locations throughout the state. Two of those locations will be Bridgeport and Hartford.
The current locations consist of two Bobby V’s Sports Bars (in Stamford and Windsor Locks) and several Winners Sports Bar locations throughout Connecticut:
- Sports Haven
- Winners New Britain
- Winners Hartford
- Winners Waterbury
- Shea’s Manchester
- Winners Milford
- Winners Torrington
Connecticut Legal Online Fantasy Sports Sites
Connecticut is a state that has not explicitly legalized online daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites, but there is no law prohibiting these sites from launching either. The state included DFS in the newly amended gaming compacts, but the state did not pass a final bill that would see the state regulate these options.
Since there is no law against DFS sites going live in Connecticut, there is a wide range of Connecticut sports betting sites available in the state for mobile sports betting. Since DraftKings and FanDuel both offer traditional sports betting as well, each site can offer DFS games on that same app.
Salary Cap DFS Sites
Not only are DraftKings and FanDuel two of the three alternatives for online sports betting, but these websites also rule the daily fantasy sports (DFS) market. Particularly when it comes to salary cap games, these websites have been in competition for almost a decade.
Players in salary cap games must first draft a roster before using that roster to compete in matches. Similar games are offered by other operators, but these two websites utterly outcompete the rest of the field.
You can register online for websites like DraftKings or FanDuel. Additionally, as DFS sites have an 18-year-old minimum age requirement for gambling, more citizens of the state can now access this online betting alternative.
Fantasy Player Prop Games In Connecticut
Since competing with DraftKings and FanDuel is not a realistic goal for other DFS operators, the operators have created new games to give these sites a chance to be competitive. Player prop games are available in Connecticut and these offerings stay away from salary cap games altogether.
Player prop games are much different from traditional DFS games, and the player does not draft a roster. Players make choices based on the props the sites offer and then enter a dollar amount that they wish to use to enter that contest.
Here are some DFS sites in Connecticut that offer player prop games:
- Monkey Knife Fight
- FantasyDraft
- Yahoo Fantasy Sports
Best Ball Games In Connecticut
Underdog Fantasy was once in operation in Connecticut, but lawmakers forced them to pull out when the state signed new gaming compacts. However, there is a chance that Underdog will be back in operation at some point, and this site is known for offering the best ball games.
Best ball games are similar to traditional salary cap games, but the site has more control as it will set the most optimal lineup. There are daily, weekly, or season-long best ball games available, and anyone 18 or over that is in the state of Connecticut can play when the Underdog site is live.
Are Online Poker Sites Legal In Connecticut?
The new gaming compacts and online gambling laws state that each tribe can have just one online gambling partner. Those laws did legalize online poker in the state, but as of 2022, there are no online poker options in Connecticut.
There are several reasons that online poker sites are not currently available in Connecticut, and the size of the state is one of the biggest reasons. Connecticut is home to just 3.5 million people, and that is going to keep the top online poker sites from launching in the state.
Another issue is that the tribes are only allowed one online gambling partner. DraftKings and FanDuel have claimed these deals with the current tribes, and neither seems interested in launching an online poker site.
Flutter Entertainment owns FanDuel, and there is an online poker background with that company. But unfortunately, DraftKings does not have any online poker options anywhere in the U.S., and that’s not changing anytime soon.
With so many unknowns surrounding online poker sites in Connecticut, it’s unclear how this market might look in the future. Since there are strict laws currently in place, FanDuel might end up being the only online poker site in Connecticut.
Are Online Casinos Legal In Connecticut?
The state officially legalized online casino gambling in Connecticut back in May 2021. This was the same bill that legalized online sports betting, and the same basic rules apply.
Since the Mohegan Indians and the Mashantucket Pequot control the in-person gambling in the state, lawmakers gave each tribe the ability to select one online partner. DraftKings and FanDuel are known for their roles in the U.S. sports betting industry, but each has an online casino presence as well.
The legal gambling age at online casino sites in Connecticut is 21 years of age. This is the same age for sports betting, and there are mobile apps in the state that offer these online casino games.
PlaySugarHouse is the online partner of the Connecticut Lottery, and it is a site that has an online casino in the U.S. However, this will not be a legal online casino site in Connecticut, as that partnership was limited to online legal sports betting.
The only way that new online casino options could ever come to Connecticut is if the state would change the current gambling laws. This would come with plenty of protest from the Native American tribes as more competition would hurt their revenue numbers.
Upcoming Connecticut Online Casino Sites
The two online casino sites in Connecticut will look very similar as each site will have to follow the same rules. The Connecticut gaming compact outlines what types of games are allowed at DraftKings and FanDuel, but there will still be plenty of options available for sports betting in Connecticut.
Online slots are the most popular options at online casino sites in Connecticut. DraftKings has over 400 slots on this site, while FanDuel has over 340 different slot titles available.
Each site currently features 15 different versions of table games, with blackjack and roulette being the two top options. As time moves on, both of the online casino sites in the state can add additional games to bring more variety for the bettors.
Both sites come with a mobile app, and the player can use the same mobile app to access the online sportsbook. In addition, online casino apps are available for download on both Android and iOS devices, making online gambling much simpler.
Live Dealer Online Casinos
Live dealer online casino games are still relatively new in the United States, and bettors in Connecticut will be able to find these options as well. DraftKings currently has seven different live dealer games available, and FanDuel has ten live dealer tables available.
Live dealer online casino games give customers the feel of being right on the casino floor, and there are several advantages to playing these games. One of the most significant advantages is that the action is typically much faster, and there is no waiting around for a table to open up.
FanDuel has eight live dealer blackjack tables available and offers two live dealer roulette tables. DraftKings has a more diverse offering of live dealer games but fewer options overall.
Customers who want to access live dealer games at either site can find these options online or through mobile apps.
Top Connecticut Online Sportsbooks
Are Connecticut Online Betting Sites Fair?
Any of the legal betting sites that are live in the state of Connecticut are permitted, and that is the best reason to know that these sites are fair. Any of the sites that have been able to obtain a gambling license will have gone through a lengthy review process.
Since Connecticut is a market with only a few options, there is plenty of competition to get the largest number of customers. If customers start to realize that a site isn’t fair, that will automatically scare people away.
Who Regulates Legal Online Sportsbooks In Connecticut?
The Department of Consumer Protection is in charge of overseeing all of the online sports betting in the state. In addition, the Department of Consumer Protection oversees all gaming activity, and that group now has plenty more industries to regulate.
This group will have to approve all of the sites before launching, but these sites are given the green light after partnering with the appropriate tribes or Connecticut Lottery.
Why Should I Trust Legal Online Sportsbooks?
The biggest reason to trust legal online sportsbooks in Connecticut is that they are all legal betting options. In addition, sites cannot launch unless the state has approved them.
There used to be offshore sportsbooks that would accept customers from Connecticut, and those sites were not to be trusted. There was no connection to the state with those sites, but things are now much different with legal online sportsbooks being available.
How Do I Get Paid If I Win?
If you win some money at any of the legal online betting sites in Connecticut, you will deal with that site directly to get your payout. Most of the banking processes will look similar regardless of which site you choose, and you should receive your money promptly.
You will have to log into your account before making a payment request, and then you will choose what option you want to use. If there is a problem receiving your payout, then you will need to reach out to customer service to get that resolved.