It's Sports Betting Go Time in Connecticut

Barring any unforeseen issues, the fine people of Connecticut will be able to start betting on sports on October 7, 2021. Sports bettors will enjoy having access to retail sportsbooks as well as having several online options available.

While sports betting in Connecticut was always a possibility, there were some major issues that needed to be resolved. The biggest issue was the renegotiation of Tribal compacts with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes. Establishing a new compact was necessary due to the fact these two Tribes have had control over most types of gambling in the state. Fortunately, the new compacts were finalized in April of 2021, pending approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

With all the Is dotted and Ts crossed, it's just a matter of sports bettors awaiting the aforementioned date of October 7. For interested parties, we thought it prudent to let Connecticut sports bettors know what to expect.

What Sports Betting Will Look Like in Connecticut

There will be three primary groups controlling sports betting in the state of Connecticut.

First up will be the Mohegan Sun Casino under the control of the Mohegan Tribe. The Mohegan Sun has chosen Fanduel to serves as its retail and online bookmaker. Eventually, Fanduel will have a state-of-the-art retail sportsbook inside of the Mohegan Sun Casino. Until the permanent retail site is ready to go, they do plan on opening up a temporary kiosk for the benefit of sports bettors who like their action live. Otherwise, Connecticut sports bettors can choose to use the Fanduel online sports betting site that includes Daily Fantasy Sports.

Next, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe will be offering retail sports betting through an already established retail sportsbook inside the Tribe's Foxwoods Casino. With DraftKings serving as its sports betting operator, sports bettors will have immediate access to both retail and online sports betting as well as Daily Fantasy Sports Online.

The third member of this sports betting triad will be the Connecticut Lottery. By law, the Lottery will be allowed to open up to 15 retail sportsbooks. To date, they have yet to announce any specific locations, but the ball is rolling and news will be forthcoming. Until the retail sites are up and running, sports bettors will be able to bet on sports online through the PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook. SugarHouse will also be in charge of the retail business.

Sports Bettor Guidelines

Anyone who wishes to legally wager on sports in Connecticut will need to meet certain guidelines. First, they must register online and provide proof they are at least 21 years of age, Also, all wagering must be done while the bettor is in the state of Connecticut.

It's worth noting that online betting will be restricted to certain online bookmakers, depending on where the bettor is wagering. The two Tribes and Lottery will have geofenced areas that will dictate which online bookmakers are legally available. The registration process will be ready to go first thing in the morning on October 7.