Sports Betting
Thousands of sporting events are played each week in Connecticut, and many of them are destined to be bet on through the state’s legal sports betting options. The top CT sports betting apps allow bettors to place wagers on their favorite teams, and they also offer live wagering options and pre-game NFL betting. These apps will offer a number of different markets for fans to bet on, including futures markets, and in-play betting options.
Currently, Connecticut sports betting is largely controlled by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. These two tribes own and operate a casino in the state, and they also send hundreds of millions of dollars to the state government through slot machines. In order to avoid losing this lucrative stream, some people feel that the tribes are holding the sports betting market hostage.
CT sports betting has been debated for years. After the federal law that prevented states from offering sports betting was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, many states moved to legalize sports betting. Connecticut was among those to do so, but only after a new tribal gaming compact was approved.
Connecticut Sports Betting
The new compact gives the two tribes exclusive rights to sports betting, and a new bill was introduced in 2020. Known as “SB 21,” the bill would allow the two tribes to continue to enjoy this exclusivity. It would also allow sports betting to be offered through legal Connecticut sportsbooks, which will be able to offer a variety of markets on major league sports. The bill was approved by Connecticut legislators in 2021, and online sports betting is expected to be rolled out the following year.
While the two tribes have the lion’s share of the sports betting scene in Connecticut, legal Connecticut sportsbooks will be able to offer a number of markets on all major sports leagues, including MLB, NBA, and WNBA. There are also futures markets for a number of NHL teams. These markets are available for a variety of different types of bets, including totals, spreads, and moneylines. These types of bets can also be paired with player props, such as which team will score the most points during a basketball game.
Connecticut sports betting has been a controversial issue since PASPA was passed. Lawmakers have taken action, but there have been a number of reasons why the state has not been able to launch a full-scale sports betting operation. In the end, many state senators have stood in the way, including Cathy Osten, who has been working to get sports betting approved for years.
In July, the Connecticut Lottery announced a Request for Proposal (RFP) to partner with a sports betting provider. The state’s Department of Consumer Protection held investigative hearings to get more information on the proposed sports betting legislation. The department also asked the legislature for more guidance. Ultimately, the legislature approved the bill, which included a new advisory council for large entertainment venues. The bill was also approved by Governor Ned Lamont, who signed it into law.