Connecticut Sports Betting
Connecticut legalized online and retail sports betting in May 2021 when Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 6451. This bill allowed the Connecticut Lottery to partner with one sportsbook operator to launch an online sportsbook and retail betting locations at off-track betting sites. The CT Lottery partnered with PlaySugarHouse.
However, the bill also included gaming compacts signed with the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe to allow both tribes to partner with a sportsbook operator. These tribes were also permitted to launch retail sportsbooks at brick-and-mortar casinos. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe partnered with DraftKings, and the Mohegan Tribe signed an agreement with FanDuel.
Every sportsbook is regulated and overseen by the Gaming Division of the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
| Tax Rate | Regulator | Launch Date | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13.75%, different regulations for tribal sportsbooks | Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) | September 30, 2021 | Online or in-person |
Read our expert guide to sports betting in Connecticut to discover more about which operators are available. We also provide an overview of the latest betting regulations and popular sports teams for betting.
Sports Betting Operators in Connecticut
There are three sportsbook operators licensed to offer betting in Connecticut: DraftKings, FanDuel, and PlaySugarHouse. DraftKings and FanDuel are two of the biggest sportsbook operators in the US. PlaySugarHouse is operated by Rush Street Interactive, which operates BetRivers in other states. However, PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers have the same desktop/app, odds, markets, and promotions.
The two tribes with gaming compacts with the state can partner with one betting operator each. The Connecticut Lottery is also allowed to partner with one sportsbook to provide betting. All of these licenses are taken, so no sportsbooks will launch in CT in the future.
| Name | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings Inc | October 19, 2021 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Flutter Entertainment | October 19, 2021 |
| PlaySugarHouse | Rush Street Interactive | October 19, 2021 |
Best Sportsbook Apps and Bonuses in Connecticut
FanDuel launched its online sportsbook in Connecticut in October 2021, on the first day online sports betting was available. The sportsbook is partnered with the Mohegan Tribe to offer online sports betting in CT, with a license from the DCP.
FanDuel also operates a retail sportsbook at the Mohegan Sun Casino. You can visit this location and bet while watching events on a 140-foot video wall. There are 39 betting kiosks where you can place wagers, and you enjoy food and drinks from bars and restaurants while playing.
The Mohegan Tribe owns Connecticut’s WNBA team, the Connecticut Sun. In September 2022, FanDuel signed a multi-year partnership with the WNBA, so you’ll often see FanDuel betting odds on the WNBA’s and Connecticut Sun’s digital channels.
While there are only three online sportsbooks in Connecticut, you can use TwinSpires online horse racing betting site to place pari-mutuel wagers on races in the US and beyond. While there are no racetracks in CT, you can bet on races in neighboring states like New York and Massachusetts.
TVG is a pari-mutuel horse racing betting site partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook. You can easily switch between the FanDuel CT site and TVG and use a shared betting wallet to bet on horse races. You can also use FanDuel TV to watch live streams of races from neighboring states and across the world.
Connecticut Legislation Timeline
- July 10, 2017: Governor Dannel Malloy signs HB 6948, which creates a regulatory framework for future sports betting in Connecticut. This includes giving regulatory power over sports betting to the DCP.
- October 31, 2017: Gov. Malloy signs a new budget, which also legalizes Daily Fantasy Sports in CT.
- March 15, 2018: The Public Safety and Security Committee holds an exploratory hearing on Connecticut sports betting. Lawyers from major leagues, including the NBA and MLB, ask for the ability to restrict wagers and collect an integrity fee from sportsbooks of 1% of all money wagered. Foxwoods Resort Casino declares it favors the legalization of sports betting.
- May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), ending Nevada’s near monopoly on sports betting and allowing Connecticut to legalize sportsbooks.
- February 25, 2020: HB 5168, legalizing sports betting, fails at the committee stage in the Connecticut General Assembly. This bill gives the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes the ability to run sportsbooks alongside off-track betting operators.
- March 3, 2020: SB 21, a second attempt at legalizing sports betting, also fails at the committee stage. This bill would have allowed sports betting, online gaming, and the ability to build a new casino in Bridgeport.
- May 27, 2021: Governor Ned Lamont signs HB 6451, which includes a new compact between the Mashantucket Pequot, the Mohegan tribe, and the Connecticut state government. This legalizes online and retail sports betting in CT. Each tribe is allowed to partner with one sportsbook operator. In addition, the Connecticut Lottery is allowed to partner with a sportsbook brand to launch a betting platform. However, this brand cannot operate a land-based casino in CT, ruling out Caesars Sportsbook.
- September 9, 2021: The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the US Department of the Interior approve the compact between the tribes and the state government.
- September 30, 2021: Retail sportsbooks launch in Connecticut, with the FanDuel retail sportsbook opening at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Gov. Lamont places the first ceremonial bet at the sportsbook, a $50 wager on the Connecticut Sun to win by more than 7.5 points against the Chicago Sky.
- October 19, 2021: All three licensed online sportsbooks, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PlaySugarHouse, launch in Connecticut.
Sports Betting in Connecticut
If you want to bet in Connecticut, you need to follow the rules set out by the DCP. This applies to residents and anyone visiting CT who wants to bet. Read our overview of the most important regulations to consider in the Constitution State to ensure you are betting legally.
Is online sports betting legal in Connecticut?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Connecticut. There are three online sportsbooks in CT that you can use to bet anywhere within the state’s borders. The sportsbooks available are DraftKings, FanDuel, and PlaySugarHouse. The DCP licenses every betting site, but each is partnered with a different regulator.
What sports can you bet on in Connecticut?
Most professional sports in the US are available with sportsbooks in Connecticut, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. While the major leagues get plenty of markets and odds, other popular sports also feature, like women’s basketball, MMA, and NASCAR.
You can bet on college sports in Connecticut, but you are prohibited from betting on in-state teams in regular NCAA Division I games. However, this restriction is removed if these teams are involved in a tournament with four or more teams, meaning you can bet on CT teams in March Madness or the NCAA Division I FCS Championship.
Who can bet on sports in CT?
If you are 21 or over and within Connecticut’s borders, you can bet on sports. However, some people are prohibited from betting. For example, you won’t be able to bet if you are part of a self-exclusion program or if you are barred from betting for criminal reasons. In addition, you also can’t bet if you are a member of a professional or college sports team. This includes players, coaches, and staff. This ban extends to employees of leagues that create rules for sports, like the NCAA or WNBA.
Anyone who works for a casino that hosts a retail sportsbook or a betting operator is also prohibited from wagering.
Official League Data usage in Connecticut
Most US sportsbooks partner with Genius Sports, the official data partner of many major leagues. Genius provides the latest stats and most up-to-date information for popular sports events. When you’re betting in play, you can use these stats to boost your betting. Sportsbooks in CT, like DraftKings, are partnered with Genius Sports.
Connecticut Sports Betting Handle
A betting handle is a good measure of interest in sports betting, as it tells you how much has been bet on sports. Since legalization in September 2021, the betting handle in Connecticut has regularly reached over $100 million a month, reaching a high of $164 million in October 2022.
| Month | Handle |
|---|---|
| October 2021 | $54,641,474 |
| November 2021 | $131,729,179 |
| December 2021 | $150,073,755 |
| January 2022 | $158,092,481 |
| February 2022 | $115,619,953 |
| March 2022 | $140,747,137 |
| April 2022 | $116,465,199 |
| May 2022 | $115,180,155 |
| June 2022 | $95,421,852 |
| July 2022 | $78,316,775 |
| August 2022 | $80,037,045 |
| September 2022 | $130,547,719 |
| October 2022 | $164,170,106 |
Connecticut Sports Teams
Connecticut hasn’t hosted a men’s major league team since the departure of the NHL’s Hartford Whalers in 1997, with the team moving to North Carolina to become the Carolina Hurricanes. However, there is plenty of support for women’s basketball, as the Connecticut Suns play in the WNBA.
In addition, fans of major league sports choose to support teams from neighboring states. Check out some of the most popular teams in CT below.
The Connecticut Sun is a women’s basketball team playing in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference. Originally, the franchise was launched as the Orlando Miracle in 1999 as a sister team to the Orlando Magic.
However, the Mohegan Tribe purchased the team in 2003 and relocated them to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. The Connecticut Sun became the first professional sports team owned by a Native American tribe.
The Sun has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs twelve times since moving to Connecticut and has won three conference titles. However, the team is yet to win a WNBA Championship, despite making the Finals three times.
As Connecticut had an NHL team until the Hartford Whalers relocated in 1997, hockey is very popular with CT sports fans and bettors. Many fans have found new teams to support, with the New York Rangers in Connecticut’s neighbor New York getting plenty of attention.
The New York Rangers were founded in 1926 and are based in Manhattan. The team plays at Madison Square Garden, which it shares with the NBA’s New York Knicks. Throughout Rangers’ history, the team has won four Stanley Cups, two conference championships, three Presidents’ Trophy titles, and seven divisional titles.
The Rangers also have a minor league affiliate in Connecticut, the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack play in the American Hockey League (AHL) and moved to Hartford after the Whalers left. The franchise was even called the Connecticut Whale from 2010 to 2013 as an homage to Hartford Whalers.
Basketball is already one of the most popular sports in Connecticut, thanks to the Connecticut Suns. Many fans support the Rangers playing in Madison Square Garden, so there are loads of New York Knicks fans in CT. In addition, Connecticut’s successful college basketball programs produce plenty of stars for the NBA.
Founded in 1946, the New York Knickerbockers are one of the oldest teams in the NBA. The Knicks won two championships in 1970 and 1973 and have also claimed four conference titles and eight divisional titles.
Connecticut Sporting Events
While major league sports are very popular in Connecticut, there are also plenty of other sports events which get lots of attention. One of the oldest games in college football is played in CT, and a golf event pulls record crowds. See below for more information on Connecticut sporting events.
The Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship is a PGA Tour event in Cromwell, Connecticut, at the TPC River Highlands, usually played in June. The event was established in 1952 and was known until 2003 as the Greater Hartford Open.
The event is the second-most-attended PGA Tour annually, setting a record attendance in 2002 when nearly 400,000 watched Phil Mickelson win his second championship at the course. In 2020, it became part of the Open Qualifying Series, providing up to two spots in the Open for the top two finishers in the Top eight who were non-exempt.
Billy Casper has won the tournament the most times, with four wins, followed by Bubba Watson with two wins. The tournament purse is $8,300,000.
“The Game”: Yale-Harvard
The Yale-Harvard football rivalry is the second-oldest and third-most-played game in college football, as the Yale University Bulldogs face off against the Harvard University Crimson. “The Game” is the nickname for the frequent matchups between the two teams, and the game alternates between Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Collegiate fans have a lot to thank Yale and Harvard for when they attend Saturday games in the fall. The game originated many elements of gridiron we know today: Yale fans singing “Hold the Fort” during the 1892 Harvard matchup is considered the first public performance of a collegiate fight song.
The game has featured some historic players, including pioneer Walter Camp, dubbed the “Father of Football”. Camp invented the down, the static line of scrimmage, and published the All-American team. Famous participants include former President Gerald Ford and Senator Ted Kennedy.
The game is also known for a series of historic pranks, including Yale students releasing a greased piglet onto the field in 1955 and 1983. Another notable event was in 2004 when Yale students at Harvard Stadium handed out 1,800 Harvard placards for fans to hold up after each score that spelled “We Suck.”
Connecticut Land-Based Sportsbooks
Every online sportsbook in Connecticut has a land-based partner with a retail sportsbook. Retail sports betting actually launched a few weeks before online betting, with FanDuel opening its retail location at the Mohegan Sun Casino. DraftKings also has a retail sportsbook at a land-based casino, opening a betting platform at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
PlaySugarHouse has a partnership with the Connecticut Lottery and so operates a different retail sportsbook policy. Rather than launching at a brick-and-mortar casino, PlaySugarHouse has opened several retail sportsbooks at off-track betting locations across the state.
While betting with your mobile is very convenient, retail sportsbooks offer you an exciting betting experience. You can enjoy amenities like bars and restaurants while you play, watching sports on giant video screens. You’ll find comfy seating options and personal booths where you can bet in peace while sharing this experience with hundreds of other sports fans. See a complete list of land-based sportsbooks in CT below.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Foxwoods Resort Casino |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Mohegan Sun Casino |
| Winners Sports Haven | New Haven |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Winners New Britain |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Winners Hartford |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Winners Waterbury |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Shea's Manchester |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Winners Milford |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Bobby V's Sports Bar |
| PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook | Bobby V's Windsor Locks |
Connecticut Responsible Gambling
There is a voluntary self-exclusion program in Connecticut which gamblers can join to prevent them from accessing casinos, sportsbooks, DFS contests, and racebooks. To sign-up for this program, you’ll need to provide some information to the Gaming Exclusion Service, including your Social Security number, tax ID number, and date of birth. You can sign-up for the program through a web portal available on the Connecticut state government website.
This information is private but will be shared with licensed Connecticut gambling operators so you can be prevented from creating a gaming account or receiving marketing material.
You can choose how long your exclusion will last: one year, five years, or a lifetime. Once this has ended, you will not be automatically removed from the self-exclusion list. You must indicate that you want to be removed to the Gaming Exclusion Service. Lifetime requests cannot be reversed, and you can renew your exclusion at any time by re-registering.
In addition to this self-exclusion program, many CT betting sites will provide responsible gambling help for bettors. This may include account tools and direction to third-party organizations like the National Council on Responsible Gambling.
FAQs
Yes, sports betting is legal in Connecticut. Retail sports betting launched in September 2021, with online sports betting coming a month later, overseen by the DCP. The state now has three online sportsbooks and ten retail sportsbooks where bettors can wager legally. You can also use any betting app if you are over 21 and within state lines.
Many sportsbooks in the US provide bonuses that players can redeem to boost their betting. For example, sportsbooks in CT offer welcome bonuses to new players. You can redeem offers like free bets and risk-free bets just for registering and following terms and conditions. There are also plenty of existing player promotions, like free bets and odds boosts, which you can find in the promotions section of your sportsbook.
Yes, mobile sports betting is available in Connecticut. Online sports betting was legalized when Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 6451, and there are three online sportsbooks live. The Connecticut Lottery signed an agreement with Rush Street Interactive, which launched PlaySugarHouse. Meanwhile, two CT Native American tribes partnered with FanDuel and DraftKings so these sportsbooks could go live.
Yes, you can play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests in Connecticut. Ct lawmakers legalized DFS contests in October 2017, when then-Governor Dannel Malloy signed a budget that included provisions for DFS to be regulated by the state’s Commissioner of Consumer Protection. This means you can play DFS contests with the two leading providers in CT, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
State law in Connecticut requires sportsbooks to withhold 6.99% on all gambling winnings that are reportable for federal tax purposes or subject to federal withholding tax. In addition, you may need to pay federal tax on your winnings if you win more than $600 in a year. Most sportsbooks will send you a W-2G form you can use to report your winnings to the IRS.
You can bet on sports anywhere in Connecticut if you use one of the three online sportsbooks. In addition, there are several retail sportsbooks you can visit. There are two retail sportsbooks at brick-and-mortar casinos, operated by FanDuel and DraftKings. There are also a handful of retail betting locations at off track betting locations, which PlaySugarHouse operates.
You can use DraftKings Sportsbook legally in Connecticut because the operator is partnered with the Mashantucket Pequots Tribe. The DraftKings betting app is available anywhere in the state if you are over 21. You can register with the sportsbook and claim its welcome bonus to start betting. You can also visit the operator’s retail sportsbook at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino.
Yes, you can use FanDuel Sportsbook in Connecticut. The sportsbook is partnered with Mohegan Sun Casino, where it operates a retail sportsbook. You can also use its betting app if you are over 21 and within the borders of CT. FanDuel is also partnered with TVG, a pari-mutuel horse racing betting site you can use in Connecticut.
No, BetMGM is not available in Connecticut. Online sportsbooks must be partnered with either a tribal casino (Foxwoods Resort & Casino or Mohegan Sun) or the CT Lottery. BetMGM does not have a valid partnership and is not licensed by the DCP.