Is sports betting legal in connecticut?
Yes, sports betting officially became legal in Connecticut on May 27, 2021 when Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 6541. The bill also legalized online sports betting. That same day, Gov. Lamont signed a Tribal Gaming Compact with leaders from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe which formalized the terms in which Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun could offer sports betting. It’s worth noting that although you can bet on sports in the state, betting on college teams like UConn or Yale is off limits for now. Some lawmakers are looking to reverse that, however, and this page will be updated if those changes go into effect.
Connecticut quick facts
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Launch Date: September, 2021 -
ImageLegal Betting Age: 21 years old
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ImageOnline Sports Betting: Yes
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ImageOnline Casino Sites: Yes
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ImageOnline Poker Sites: Yes
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ImageRegulatory Body: Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection
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ImageLegal online sportsbooks: 3
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ImageCollege Sports Betting: Yes, but not on in-state teams
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ImagePolitical or entertainment betting: No
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ImageHigh School sports Betting: No
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ImageEsports betting: Yes
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ImageNFL Draft: No
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ImageRemote registration: Yes
Timeline of Betting Legislation & Latest News
Connecticut officially legalized sports betting in May of 2021 which was a relief to sports bettors in the Nutmeg state who were driving to Rhode Island and New York so they could legally place wagers. When Rhode Island legalized sports betting in 2018, there were some jealous sports fans in Connecticut. The efforts to legalize sports betting in The Constitution State survived some roadblocks and bumps in the road, but wagering on sports is alive and well.
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May 14, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), paving the way for each state to legalize sports betting.
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Feb. 5, 2020
State Representative Joe Gresko introduced House Bill 5168 to legalize sports betting in the state. It didn’t make it through the legislative session.
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Feb. 11, 2021
House Bill 6541, a bill to legalize sports betting in the state, is introduced in the house.
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May 20, 2021
HB 6541 amendments pass in the House with votes of 122-21 and 121-22.
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may 25, 2021
Amended HB 6541 passes in the Senate by a vote of 28-6.
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may 27, 2021
HB 6541 and a Tribal Gaming Compact are both signed by Governor Ned Lamont, making sports betting legal in the state.
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Sept. 30, 2021
Retail sports betting launches at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casinos.
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Oct, 12, 2021
Online sports betting “soft launches” in Connecticut and a limited number of people were permitted to make wagers online.
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Oct. 19, 2021
Online sports betting fully launches in the state.
How to start betting in connecticut
Sports betting in Connecticut is simple thanks to remote registration which allows bettors to register for a sportsbook and deposit money into their account from anywhere including all the great pizza joints in New Haven. If you’re over 21-years-old and inside Connecticut state lines, you can download your favorite sports betting app on a smartphone, deposit money, verify your identity, and begin betting instantly. If you prefer in-person betting, stop by Mohegan Sun (Uncasville) or Foxwoods (Ledyard).
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Select a Sportsbook
First, decide which sportsbook you want to use and download that sports betting app on your phone. Some sportsbooks will allow you to get started from their website on a computer as well. With the help of this article, make sure the app you’ve chosen is regulated in your state.
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Create Account
Click the button on your sportsbooks’s app that says “signup” or “get started,” while you’re inside state lines, to begin creating an account. You’ll be required to fill in some personal information and verify your identity.
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Deposit
To fund the account, select the payment option you prefer. Each sportsbook has different options for deposits, but common options include: Credit/debit card, bank transfers, PayPal, etc. Remember to keep an eye out for any fees that might be associated with the deposit.
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Choose your bet and bet size
There are a variety of wagering options within each sportsbook. If you’re just getting started, moneylines are the most straight-forward bet and allow bettors to wager on who will win an event. Point spreads, over/unders, parlays, player props and futures bets are also popular choices.
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Place a Wager
Every sportsbook runs independently from each other so they each may offer different point spreads or odds on the same wager. Before placing your wager, try shopping around at other betting apps to get the best price. Once you’ve found odds you like, type in your wager amount and submit your wager. If your wager wins, your winnings and your original bet will be deposited back into your account shortly after the event you bet on finishes.
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Withdraw funds
Each online sportsbook has different methods and processes for cashing out money if you’re successful betting. It’s normal for withdrawals to take longer than deposits, but the money is typically received within a couple days.
Home Field Advantage
While there is only one true professional sports teams currently in the Constitution State, WNBA's Connecticut Sun, it's not a far drive to check out Boston or New York sports franchises. If you listen closely, though, you can still hear the brass bonanza playing from the old NHL team, the Hartford Whalers.
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ImageNCAA – UConn Huskies: In a state without a major professional sports team since the Hartford Whalers left in 1997, Husky pride is alive and well in the Nutmeg state. UConn’s men’s and women’s teams both made it to the Final Four this past season and they’ve been blessed with two of the better college coaches of the past few decades in current women's coach Geno Auriemma and former men’s coach Jim Calhoun. Unfortunately for legal reasons, fans in Connecticut have to drive to nearby states like Massachusetts or New York to place wagers on the Huskies. For now, Connecticut sports bettors can’t bet on the Huskies or other in-state teams like Yale.
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ImageMLB – Boston Red Sox: With the state situated between New York City and Boston, there’s a joke in Connecticut that babies need to choose at birth if they’re Red Sox fans or Yankees fans. While you may find a stray New York Mets fan from time to time, most baseball fans sit on one side or the other of the heated Red Sox – Yankees rivalry. The Red Sox have nine World Series championships including the recent 2018 campaign, but they’ve only had one postseason appearance (2021) since then.
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ImageMLB – New York Yankees: Yankees fans love to remind people they have 27 World Series titles, but they last won it all in 2009. The Yankees lineup features two of the best hitters in baseball in Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, so keep an eye on home run props for those two sluggers. Over the years, the Bronx Bombers have been popular moneyline bets as they’ve not finished under .500 since 1992.
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ImageNFL – New England Patriots: Connecticut is one of six states to make up the territory known as “New England,” so although the Patriots play their home games to the north in Massachusetts, the Patriots are Connecticut’s NFL team of choice. Thanks to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, Connecticut has been spoiled to witness Super Bowl titles from the Patriots in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, and 2019. It’s not a surprise to see a sprinkling of New York Giants or New York Jets fans in Connecticut too.
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ImageWNBA – Connecticut Sun: Connecticut’s WNBA team plays its home games at the Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, CT) inside one of the state’s two massive casinos. The Sun have yet to be crowned WNBA Finals champions, but they made it to the finals in 2004, 2005, 2019, and 2022.
USA Betting News
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) offers a 24/7 helpline (1-888-789-7777) and chat option at the bottom right corner of every page on their website. If someone in Connecticut wishes to voluntarily self exclude, meaning ban themselves from sports betting in the state, they can do so through the state or the state’s individual casinos. The links for all self exclusion options are available on the CCPG website along with several other resources like a contact list for gambling treatment programs funded by the state.