How Much Money Will Be Bet On Connecticut Sports in October?
- Connecticut is prepared to pull in millions of dollars when online sports betting launches
- Some of the biggest brands in wagering, like FanDuel and DraftKings, are bolstering CT sports betting
- Online Connecticut sports betting gets underway on October 7, 2021
Retail sports betting is officially available in Connecticut, and with online wagering fast approaching, the Nutmeg State will collect millions of dollars through the month of October.
| State | Population | First Full Month of Betting | Projected Betting Handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 3.5 million | October 2021 | $115,000,000 |
Bettors are already wagering on their favorite games as in-person sports betting got started on September 30.
While this got the ball rolling, the total betting handle for the state will shoot through the roof once online Connecticut sportsbooks launch their mobile apps on October 7.
Here’s a close look at how much money could be wagered on Connecticut sports in October 2021.
Looking at Sports Betting Launches in Other States
Comparing results from the launch of sports betting in other states with similar populations is a reliable way to predict a first-month figure for Connecticut. It’s also critical to note which month each state launched sports betting in, as the NFL football season tends to drive up the betting handle.
Connecticut Population: 3.565 million
Connecticut Sports Betting Launch: September 30 (in-person) and October 7 (online), 2021
Let’s compare totals from the following three states to get a better idea of the handle Connecticut could pull in through October:
| State | Population | First Full Month of Betting | First Month Handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada* | 3.08 million | June 2018 | $286,548,295 |
| Iowa | 3.1 million | September 2019 | $38,528,921 |
| Colorado | 5.7 million | May 2020 | $25,621,762 |
*Figures for the first full month of sports betting following the repeal of PASPA in May 2018
Nevada
At first glance, the discrepancy in first-month handle between Nevada and the other two states may seem drastic. The Silver State legalized sports betting way back in 1949 but were grandfathered in and allowed to continue accepting bets, even when PASPA outlawed sports wagering across the US.
Since PASPA was repealed in May 2018, these are the sports betting handle numbers in Billions.
1. New Jersey: $16.7 B
2. Nevada: $15.9
3. Pennsylvania: $8.1
4. Illinois: $5.1
5. Indiana: $3.9
6. Colorado: $2.8
7. Michigan: $1.8
8. Iowa: $1.6
9. Tennessee: $1.4
10. Virginia: $1.3— KrackWins (@krackwins) August 10, 2021
For the purposes of this projection, we took the betting handle from the first full month of Nevada sports betting following the repeal of PASPA.
As a long-established betting market, Nevada’s first-month handle following the repeal of PASPA was a whopping $286 million. Connecticut is unlikely to see numbers anywhere near the $250 million mark in the first month, although with approximately 500,000 more residents in the Nutmeg State, they could get at least halfway there.
Iowa
Sports betting in Iowa launched August 15, 2019, and their first full month of betting in September saw $38 million wagered.
This figure may seem low in comparison to Nevada, but there’s good reason for that. For starters, Nevada has a well-established wagering market thanks to the city of Las Vegas.
Furthermore, sports betting has only grown in popularity year over year. Exactly one year later in September 2020, Iowa sports betting saw $72 million wagered.
Mobile registration for sports betting started in Iowa on January 1, 2021–by 3PM on January 5, DraftKings registered more customers via mobile registration than during the entirety of 2020 with in-person registration. #DKNGEarnings $DKNG pic.twitter.com/uqTiclnL7Z
— DraftKings News (@DraftKingsNews) February 26, 2021
Another important note is Iowa used to require bettors to verify their sportsbook registration in-person, even if bettors wanted to wager online. They have since lifted this requirement, and monthly handle figures have grown steadily ever since.
Based on these factors, it’s safe to say the first month of Connecticut sports betting will see $100 million or more wagered.
Colorado
While Colorado has over two million more residents than Connecticut, they’re still a good example to study in this case.
The Centennial State saw $25 million wagered through their first month of sports betting in May 2020. As previously mentioned, the launch month plays a big factor in determining betting volume, and there’s no NFL football being played in May.
Colorado managed to reach the $200 million monthly handle mark just four months later in September 2020. If we cut that figure in half to account for the population discrepancy, it’s once again clear that $100 million should be no problem for Connecticut in the month of October.
Final Verdict
When all is said and done, Connecticut sports betting should see approximately $115 million wagered on sports in October 2021.
The temporary sports book at Mohegan Sun. pic.twitter.com/mKGBrcVCVS
— Mike Anthony (@ManthonyHearst) September 30, 2021
Check out our Connecticut wagering revenue page for a more detailed breakdown on this projection. We’ll keep that page updated with official revenue statistics once the results are available sometime in November.
Three World-Class Sportsbooks to Choose From in Connecticut
Fans in the state of Connecticut will have a total of three sportsbooks to choose from when online betting launches October 7, 2021. Each of these sportsbooks signed an official partnership to gain CT market access, detailed in the brackets below:
- DraftKings Sportsbook (Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation)
- FanDuel Sportsbook (Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment)
- SugarHouse Sportsbook (Rush Street Interactive and the Connecticut State Lottery)
While the total number of sportsbooks in Connecticut might be fewer than other states, these are three world-class betting sites that will help you get closer to the action in your favorite games.
Connecticut Online Sports Betting Launches October 7
In-person Connecticut sports betting is already available with the retail locations from DraftKings and FanDuel.
Online and mobile app betting platforms are set to launch on October 7, and the SugarHouse sportsbook will be the final operator to join the Connecticut market.
There’s nothing quite like wagering from the comfort of your couch, and Connecticut sports bettors can experience the thrill of mobile betting in just a matter of days!
A sports fanatic and strategic wordsmith, Mitchell has been writing gaming content for over seven years. As sports betting emerges in markets across the globe, he’s ready to journey alongside those who haven’t wagered before with informative articles and comprehensive how-to guides.
