Why has Connecticut delayed online gambling and sports betting in its state?

Connecticut’s online gambling and sports betting planned rollout were to be on Oct 7. Some unexpected news was, however, delivered on Oct 6 by state officials in a presser. The acting communications director of the Department of Consumer Protection, Kaitlyn Krasselt, stated clearly that the cancellation resulted from a delay in publishing the memorandum of understanding in the registrar’s office.

In her statement, the communication director Kaitlyn Krasselt stated that the Department of Consumer Protection was working hard to finalize all details of the launch of online gambling and Sports Betting in the state.

Kaitlyn Krasselt also stated that the department was working with licensees to certify all their platforms entirely. At the same time, the licensees were fully compliant with all rules and regulations before launching online gambling and sports betting.

Kaitlyn Krasselt also confirmed to the public that the only issue that led to the delay in launching online gaming and sports betting in the state was a slight delay in publishing. The publishing issue would be quickly resolved. Kaitlyn Krasselt assured everyone that the Memorandum of Understanding had no flaws; hence the delay was not a result of the MOU.

Kaitlyn Krasselt went ahead to clarify that for the official launch of online gambling and sports betting to happen, the bureau of Indian affairs had to approve two tribal nations and the state. The process was diligently completed, but the subsequent process of filing it in the federal register took longer than expected, causing a delay in the launch of online gambling activities in Connecticut state.

Online Sportsbooks in Connecticut

Sept 30, 2021, saw the first launch of retail betting in Connecticut. Online sports betting would follow closely as there was a soft launch on Oct 12. The much-awaited full launch is anticipated to happen on Oct 19 (seven days later). The inclusion of sports betting and online gaming results from an agreement between the Connecticut government and the two gaming tribes in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, and the Mohegan tribe.

The agreement was a move to enhance more significant deals on casino offerings, boost tribal exclusivity and improve the inclusion of legal betting in Connecticut. Wagering is expected to be legalized in physical sportsbooks and mobile phones after the official launch.

A full launch of online gambling and sports betting is anticipated to happen on Oct 17, 2021. After the launch, bettors will have three options when selecting their preferred sportsbooks: the state lottery and the two Connecticut tribes. The three Sportsbooks expected to launch in Connecticut are PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and DraftKings Sportsbook. However, this process is just a start, and Connecticut can experience the fun that comes with the sports betting app offered by Oddstrader and other reputable platforms.

PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook

The PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook is a partner of the Rush Street Initiative and is played via a lottery. The initial stage saw 15 sportsbooks, apply for the mobile betting skin, but their identities were hidden from public. After narrowing it down to only four sportsbooks, the Connecticut lottery selected PlaySugarHouse sportsbook as their official partners. So, if you want to play a lottery in Connecticut, you can only do it from the Play Sugar House Sportsbook.

FanDuel Sportsbook

One of the rival tribes in Connecticut is the Mohegan tribe. After amending its agreement with Kambi, the Mohegan tribe partnered with FanDuel, the renowned online gaming provider. Therefore, all forms of trading in the Mohegan Sun Casino and the retail sportsbook product are powered by FanDuel Sportsbook Connecticut.

DraftKings Sportsbook

The other rival group in Connecticut is the Mashantucket Pequot tribe. The tribe owns the famous Foxwood Resort and Casino. The tribe entered a partnership with the DraftKings Sportsbook, a well-known DraftKings company with its base in Boston. The DraftKings company launched a retail sportsbook at the casino and is expected to launch a casino book and a casino app.

Soft Launch Period

The Department of Consumer Protection provides a seven-day trial period where platforms can make soft launches before the full launch. The soft launch for sports betting and online gambling in Connecticut began on Oct 12 and is expected to run until Oct 19. During the soft launch, the companies must observe the following:

• Only 750 bettors can play in the sportsbooks.
• The sportsbooks are only open for a limited period from 3-11 pm.
• Only FanDuel and DraftKings are allowed to launch online casino games.

The Connecticut Lottery is permitted to launch an online lottery but not online casino games.

UPDATE - Tuesday 19th October: The state Department of Consumer Protection authorized the launch of online gambling and sports betting in Connecticut, therefore the licensed sites are fully operative.