Unrestricted online gambling set to begin Tuesday in Connecticut, ushering in broadest expansion in decades
HARTFORD, Conn. — Unrestricted online gambling in Connecticut begins Tuesday, inaugurating the broadest expansion of legalized wagering in the state since the two Native American casinos opened in the 1990s.
The state Department of Consumer Protection authorized the launch of online sports wagering and iCasino to begin at 6 a.m. Tuesday following a one-week limited trial.
The Connecticut Lottery Corp., Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe may begin offering online wagering to adults 21 and older through their online gaming operating partners. The Lottery has partnered with Rush Street Interactive, the Mohegan Sun is working with FanDuel, and Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequots, has partnered with DraftKings.
The two tribes also may offer iCasino. More than 130 games have been approved by the Department of Consumer Protection for both the FanDuel and DraftKings apps.
Gov. Ned Lamont, who negotiated the terms of the broadened gambling rules with the two Native American tribes, said it’s one of the “fastest state implementations of online gaming and sports wagering of any state in the nation.”
The Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots agreed to a change in their compacts with the state that had guaranteed exclusive gambling rights in exchange for a 25% tax on slot machine revenue.
Connecticut launched a limited run for online gambling last week. The Lottery Corp. reported more than $60,000 in bets were made in the first two days and the new system, including financial transactions, worked well.