Connecticut (CT)

Online gambling fans have been basking in total paradise since Connecticut legalized this activity on October 19, 2021. However, those who wish to engage in sports betting will find that online options, such as online websites and mobile apps, are somewhat limited if they only look at in-state options.

Nevertheless, Connecticut still has the most in-state sportsbook platforms compared to other US states. Thus, every sports betting enthusiast can access their favorite bets, either state-regulated online sites or brick-and-mortar locations. They can also choose to place their bets on offshore sites to expand their options.

Online Sports Betting in Connecticut

State legislators have already legalized all Connecticut online sports betting activities, and thus there are plenty of options available for players to bet on, be it online or in person. Although tribal casinos have existed for a very long time in the Constitution State, State legalized online gambling on both casinos and sportsbooks only recently, in 2021. Now bettors can go to the website or download the app of the three authorized online sports betting providers in CT.

Aside from these two channels, state residents can also engage in in-person sports betting at land-based establishments such as Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun. They can also place their sports wagers in the retail sportsbook sites that the Connecticut Lottery organization has established.

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)'s Gaming Division regulates all forms of legal gambling activities, such as sports betting in CT. Meanwhile, the division also gave the two tribes in the state and the Connecticut Lottery the power to regulate the sportsbooks sites that will operate in partnership with them.

Regarding the casinos, the Constitution State already allowed these establishments to operate within its jurisdiction even before CT legalized online sports betting. Currently, the state enables casinos and their online gambling partners to run their businesses within its borders.

Sports Betting Legislation in CT

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018. With this, it effectively made legal any actions each state would take to legalize sports betting in their jurisdictions.

Three years after this development, Gov. Ned Lamont mentioned actively working to make sports betting legal in Connecticut. At that time, the Constitution State only allowed retail and casino gambling activities. He held several meetings with the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan tribes to accommodate this new form of gambling into their existing gaming contracts. The state also invited various sports betting platforms to send their proposals to the Connecticut Lottery Corporation for evaluation.

In May 2021, the state's legislators finally passed the sports betting bill, and the governor also signed it. The succeeding months saw the tribes and the CLC partnering with online sports betting operators. However, the state's sports gambling bill experienced some delays due to several factors, such as disputes in the provisions and the delay of the memorandum of understanding from the federal government. After the officials ironed out all these obstacles, Connecticut finally legalized online sports betting on October 19, 2021.

Restrictions

The Constitution State has restricted access to online in-state sports betting activities to those who are 21 years old and above. Bettors also don't need to live in Connecticut as they must be inside the state's boundaries.

In addition to the above, CT residents can place their sports wagers on betting sites of the sportsbook operators. For in-state options, they can place bets on online sports offered by casinos, e-sports, collegiate sports, and others. However, bettors will not be able to participate if one of the playing teams is from Connecticut, participating in a non-tournament event.

Licensing and Taxes

Before online sports betting became legal in the state, sportsbook operators could apply for a license by sending their proposal to the Connecticut Lottery Corporation. However, after the state legalized the sports betting bill, the CLC closed the application process and decided to limit only the number of in-state providers to three operators: DraftKings, FanDuel, and SugarHouse.

An online sports betting operator license typically costs around $2,000, and the license needs to be renewed annually for the exact cost. Connecticut also charges licensed sportsbook operators with the corresponding federal excise tax based on the amount and components of their gross gaming revenue (GGR). It charges an 18% tax rate for five years to new online commercial casino gaming operators, increasing to around 20% for the succeeding five years.

In terms of sports betting, the charged tax rate is 13.7%.

How profitable has sports betting been in Connecticut?

Ever since Connecticut legalized sports betting in October of 2021, the state has amassed over $2 billion dollars in sports betting handle. Here we'll take a look at their monthly numbers for handle, revenue, and tax income.

• September 2023:

  • Sports betting handle: $180.9m

  • Revenue: $18.9m

  • Tax Income: $2.04m

• August 2023: Handle: $91.3m, Revenue: $9.79m, Tax Income: $1.02m

• July 2023: Handle: $91.5m, Revenue: $11.12m, Tax Income: $1.12m

• June 2023: Handle: $91.4m, Revenue: $9.75m, Tax Income: $961,577

• May 2023: Handle: $109.4m, Revenue: $15.2m, Tax Income: $1.64m

• April 2023: Handle: $126.6m, Revenue: $13.6m, Tax Income: $1.45m

• March 2023: Handle: $159.9m, Revenue: $17.02m, Tax Income: $1.85m

• February 2023: Handle: $136.5m, Revenue: $11.6m, Tax Income: $1.17m

• January 2023: Handle: $167.6m, Revenue: $19.6m, Tax Income: $1.91m

2022

• December 2022: Handle: $160.26m, Revenue: $16.2m, Tax Income: $1.73m

• November 2022: Handle: $165.02m, Revenue: $17.8m, Tax Income: $1.94m

• October 2022: Handle: $164.1m, Revenue: $17.01m, Tax Income: $1.73m

• September 2022: Handle: $130.5m, Revenue: $17.6m, Tax Income: $1.77m

• August 2022: Handle: $80.03m, Revenue: $10.8m, Tax Income: $1.15m

• July 2022: Handle: $78.3m, Revenue: $8.61m, Tax Income $859,049

• June 2022: Handle: $95.4m, Revenue: $7.14m, Tax Income: $669,453

• May 2022: Handle: $115.18m, Revenue: $10.3m, Tax Income: $981,304

• April 2022: Handle: $116.4m, Revenue: $10.3m, Tax Income: $988,263

• March 2022: Handle: $140.7m, Revenue: $11.5m, Tax Income: $1.03m

• February 2022: Handle: $115.6m, Revenue: $5.84m, Tax Income: $501,516

• January 2022: Handle: $158.09m, Revenue: $11.8m, Tax Income: $1.14m

What is legal to bet on in CT?

Bettors in Connecticut can place their wagers on all types of popular sports, and of course, this vast selection of betting options includes the most popular leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, and many others. In addition to all this, betting enthusiasts in the state can enjoy esports, horse racing, fantasy games, and live wagering on these CT betting apps and websites. So, there's an immersively wide range of betting options available on both desktop and mobile.

CT generally allows only those aged 21 to engage in all sports betting activities on in-state sites or apps. Meanwhile, if players want to wager on their favorite sports within the state, they must ensure that they do so only through the three authorized in-state sportsbook operators and their partners.

Another restriction prevents the CT residents from placing their bets if one of the playing teams is native to the state, participating in a non-tournament game.

Gambling news and updates from Connecticut

• May 23, 2023: The XL Center in Hartford is set to become an area in which sports betting can be performed. With the launch date of September 1st, the arena is still in search of a sportsbook to partner with.

• March 30, 2023: Rush Street Interactive has ended its sports betting partnership with the state of Connecticut and the Connecticut lottery just two years into a ten-year deal.

• February 22, 2023: A new bill has been proposed in the state that is calling for stricter rules surrounding sports betting and gambling advertisements.

How do mobile sportsbook apps work in Connecticut?

All three Connecticut mobile betting apps became available to the public at the same time when the state legalized online sports betting in October 2021.

So, in other words, the selection of available online sports betting apps in CT is limited as there are only three, but we are quite certain that more gambling sites will certainly launch in the future. As the state’s earnings increase further and due to the taxes and license fees these sportsbook operators pay as a share of their revenue, this will probably persuade the CLC to open up the license application process and raise the number of in-state gambling providers.

The three mentioned betting apps came simultaneously. The apps work similarly as they all have matching sign-up processes, offer comparable customer promotions, and provide the same sports roster, betting options, and other attributes.

What differentiates each sports betting site from another is the amount of bonus they offer at a given moment. For example, one sportsbook available in Connecticut is the well-known DraftKings sportsbook which offers new players who sign up for the first time a welcome bonus worth up to $1,050. This offer includes a $50 free bet and a 20% match-up bonus of up to $1,000.

Meanwhile, FanDuel offers a free-risk bet as a welcome bonus that is worth up to 1000$. The last one, SugarHouse Sportsbook, offers new users a $250 first deposit bonus match that is a 100% deposit match; which one is the best bonus depends, of course, on the players' preference.

Getting started - Step-by-step

1. Sign-up: For CT sports betting, the sign-up process involves inputting the player’s name, contact number, address, password, and other relevant personal details into a standard form on the website.

2. Download the preferred sports betting app: The three online sports betting operators in Connecticut all offer an accompanying mobile app. Bettors can then download from app stores such as Google Play or Apple iOS.

3. Make a deposit — fund your account: Once the individual completes the registration process, they can now start to fund their accounts. Some of the funding methods include eCheck, credit cards, and others.

4. Claim offered bonuses / free bets: After funding their account, bettors can input the indicated bonus code and follow the directions on the app or website to avail of the bonus offerings.

5. Place your bets: As soon as they fund their accounts, bettors can now start to wager on their favorite sports teams.

Bonuses and CT sports betting offers

Some of the bonus offers or promotions these state-regulated sportsbook betting apps and sites provide to CT residents include doubling or matching deposits up to a certain amount and free casino chips for first-time users.

Fanduel, for example, offers players who open a new account $50 in site credits if they deposit $10. Many of Connecticut's sports gambling sites also offer bonuses for first-time re-loads, and the offshore betting operators even provide higher incentives for those who will use cryptocurrencies such as bitcoins. Other promotions include risk-free offers like DraftKings' risk-free bet worth up to $100.

Most betting sites automatically credit and deposit these rebates into the bettor's account. Still, there can also be different kinds of special bonuses that players can claim only during certain times or days of the week or via a specific promo code.

Payment methods for depositing

In terms of banking options, online sports betting operators in Connecticut provide a wide range of payment methods available to deposit funds into your own account. Some of the choices include credit and debit cards, PayPal, Play+, e-check, online banking transfers, paper checks, and others.

However, some of these methods, such as credit cards, are available only for depositing funds. Meanwhile, banking withdrawal options from online sportsbooks are pretty limited. These withdrawal options include Play+, PayPal, online bank transfers, and checks. Banks and reputable private entities manage these payment options in Connecticut. They are generally safe to use as stringent cybersecurity measures protect their systems.

Trusted Connecticut sports betting mobile apps in 2023

The following section provides an overview of the available in-state sports betting operators in the state of Connecticut:

Fanduel is a well-known sports betting app based on expert and user reviews. The app was established in 2021 and originated in the U.S. When CT legalized sports betting, the sportsbook partnered with the Mohegan tribe to start operating in the state.

PlaySugarHouse is a division of the Rush Street Interactive (RSI) company, also a U.S.-based firm. The operator is the winner of a competitive bidding activity that paved the way for its partnership with the Connecticut Lottery. The sports betting app is well-known as it is consistently featured in top lists and went live in the state in 2021.

DraftKings is another popular sportsbook operator based on its presence in various top providers' lists. The company is based in the U.S. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the owner of Foxwoods Casino, has partnered with DraftKings to launch its online sports betting and casino gaming business in Connecticut. This betting app went live in 2021.

Connecticut Sports betting at casinos

There are two casinos in Connecticut that provide in-person sports betting options together with their sportsbook operator partners. One of these casinos is the Foxwood Resorts and Casino, which is operated by The Mashantucket Pequot tribe, a partner of Draftkings. The other is the Mohegan Sun Casino which has formed a partnership with Fanduel.

Aside from these two casinos, the Connecticut Lottery partnered with RSI's SugarHouse Sportsbook to manage wagers at Windsor Locks and Bobby V's in Stamford. The partners also work the retail sports betting operations in five other physical sites.

Other retail sportsbook locations include the seven Winners' off-track betting sites, and overall, there are 16 in-person sports betting areas within the CT jurisdiction. There are only three online in-state gambling operators, so based on this, the selection of state-regulated retail sportsbooks is way broader.