Connecticut Sports Betting to Launch Set For October 7th

• Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said sports betting will launch in the state in October.
• A sports betting soft-launch will take place early in the month.
• The sports betting licensing process is still ongoing.
  

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Update: In a not-yet-aired interview with Eyewitness News 3 in Connecticut, Eric Parker, Gov. Ned Lamont’s chief of staff, revealed Connecticut online sports betting will launch on Friday, Oct. 7. The full interview will air on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 8:30 a.m.

After months of planning and approvals, Gov. Ned Lamont (D) believes Connecticut online sports betting will launch in October after receiving word from the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior the state’s gaming compacts were approved.

With this final step in the federal process completed, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection can now move forward with the sports betting licensing process for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe. All three organizations will likely be able to launch sports betting in October after the state conducts a “soft launch” of the product.

Soft Launch Required For Connecticut Sports Betting

Michelle Seagull, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, joined the “Mornings with Gary Byron” show on 103.3 FM, The Talk of Connecticut, WDRC, today to discuss the imminent launch of Connecticut sports betting.

The licensing system must first be finalized, she said, and then the Department of Consumer Protection will begin to issue licenses.

The electronic wagering platforms will also have to be certified by an independent laboratory to ensure they comply with the standards set forth by the department, she said. Once the platform are certified the state can begin its sports betting “soft launch.”

“Then we’ll have a sort of soft launch period before it opens, just so we can watch and see how everything is working, make sure it’s ready to go before it opens up to the whole public,” Seagull said.

Lamont said the state can expect the launch of sports betting in October, which means the soft launch will likely begin early in the month to reach the start time.

Where Will Connecticut Sports Betting Be Available?

Connecticut residents will have several in-person and online sports betting options after the state’s full launch. Sports betting licenses will be awarded to the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe.

Here are the potential opportunities for sports betting in the state:

Mohegan Tribe: The Mohegan Tribe partnered with FanDuel to run its online and in-person sports betting options. A retail sportsbook will be located at the Mohegan Tribe-owned Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville. The tribe will offer online sports betting through the FanDuel app, but the timeline for online sports betting is uncertain at this point. It shouldn’t be too far behind the start of in-person sports betting, however.

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation: The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation partnered with DraftKings to run its online and in-person sports betting options. A retail sportsbook will be located at the tribal-owned Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Conn. The tribe will offer online sports betting through the DraftKings app.

Connecticut Lottery Corporation: The lottery corporation partnered with Rush Street Interaction over the summer to run its online and in-person sports betting options. The lottery will open up to 15 retail sports books in the state and will also operate an online sports betting app through the Rush Street’s BetRivers brand.

The lottery corporation is researching potential locations for its sportsbooks. One location being considered is the XL Center in Hartford, formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center and arena for the now defunct NHL franchise Hartford Whalers. The XL Center is now home to the Hartford Wolf Pack, an AHL affiliate for the New York Rangers.

The lottery will also provide sports betting kiosks to several Winners OTB and Bobby V’s restaurant locations in the state. Winners OTB locations in Norwalk, Milford, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, Hartford, Manchester and Torrington will receive kiosks.