Connecticut Sports Betting Bill Gets iGaming Added To It
- If passed, the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribe would be able to offer online sports betting and casino games.
- SB 146 also now includes provisions for the state lottery to be able to offer tickets online.
HARTFORD, Conn. – Online casino games in Connecticut have been added to an ambitious gambling expansion bill in the state Senate.
SB 146 is being sponsored by 17 different state lawmakers from both the Senate and House. The bill also has the support of Governor Ned Lamont putting it in prime position to be signed into law later this year.
How Online Gambling In Connecticut Would Work
The heavily backed Senate bill is only a little over a page long and will likely still need language added into it before it reaches the governor's desk.
But a few things are made clear. The first is that this bill aims to have most forms of legal gambling in Connecticut be operated by the states two tribes, Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot. Online casino games and sports betting would be offered through the platforms they choose to use.
The current layout of the bill doesn’t mention the need for in-person registration at either of their casinos before using their sites.
The second important part of this bill is that it would allow the Connecticut Lottery to sell tickets online. The Lottery would also have the ability to offer Keno online.
Other Details Surrounding The Bill
Many in the state are expecting the bill to pass, including DraftKings. Before the legislative session even began, DraftKings and the Mashantucket Pequot tribe announced a partnership that would have DraftKings operate their sportsbook in-person and online.
Governor Ned Lamont has also addressed the need for online gambling in his State of the State address. The effects of COVID-19 have hit Connecticut hard, and like most states, lawmakers are looking for new sources of funding.
However, this isn’t the first time the topic of legal online gambling in Connecticut has come up.
In the past, opposition between the state, the tribes, and commercial gaming properties have made it difficult to get any piece of legislation passed. MGM Resorts notoriously sued the U.S. Interior Department for allowing the state to mend its tribal compact and give the tribes control over a casino in East Windsor.
Sportech, the company in charge of the off-track betting facilities in CT may also chime in and oppose this bill.
However, if the tribes, legislators, and governor stay on the same page it may be impossible for them to block this bill from being signed into law. If all three entities remain in position, CT residents and visitors can look forward to online gambling in 2022.