Gov. Ned Lamont Places First Legal Connecticut Sports Bet

• Gov. Ned Lamont placed the first legal Connecticut sports bet this morning at the Mohegan Sun.
• Lamont placed $50 on the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun to cover -7.5 against the Chicago Sky.
• Connecticut online sports betting should launch on Thursday, Oct. 7.

It’s been a long time coming for Connecticut sports betting and Gov. Ned Lamont (R) wanted to be the first to get in on the action.

Lamont placed the first legal Connecticut sports bet in the state’s history at the Mohegan Sun casino this morning, wagering $50 on the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun to cover -7.5 points against the Chicago Sky. He ushered in the state’s in-person sports betting program with the wager at FanDuel Sportsbook.

“Money in the bank,” he declared after receiving his ticket.

Connecticut plans to launch online sports betting on Thursday, Oct. 7.

Gov. Ned “Money in the Bank” Lamont placing the first legal sports wager in Connecticut history. He put $50 on the Connecticut Sun minus-7.5 tonight against the Sky. pic.twitter.com/eUZxNiN3XH

— Mike Anthony (@ManthonyHearst) September 30, 2021

DraftKings also opened the doors to their temporary sportsbook at the Foxwoods Casino today.

Both casinos will take in-person sports bets at temporary sportsbooks until their permanent books are completed. Additionally, each casino will have a number of sports betting kiosks throughout their facilities.

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation and Rush Street Interactive have yet to announce when they will begin taking in-person sports bets at their retail locations.

Connecticut is the fourth state to launch sports betting since Sept. 1.

Connecticut Sports Betting Options

There are several opportunities for Connecticut residents to engage in sports betting. In-person sports betting is currently available at both the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos. Online sports betting should launch next week.

Here are the 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.

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 Interactive 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 one of Rush Street’s SugarHouse 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.