Nineteen days after the first bet was taken and seven days after the first mobile wager was made, operators in Connecticut have opened digital sports betting and iCasino to anyone in the state who wants to play.
The Department of Consumer Protection took off any remaining restrictions on time, bets allowed, or number of people allowed to play on each platform at 6 a.m. Tuesday, so Connecticut is officially among the nearly 30 totally live and legal sports betting jurisdictions in the U.S.
Under the new law and tribal compacts, DraftKings (Foxwoods) and FanDuel (Mohegan Sun) can offer retail and digital sports wagering as well as online casino, while the Connecticut Lottery, partnered with Rush Street Interactive, can offer retail and digital sports wagering. The lottery platform will be available via RSI’s PlaySugarHouse brand.
The tribes’ retail sportsbooks took their first wagers Sept. 30, and all three operators launched digital sports betting platforms with restrictions during a soft-launch period beginning Oct. 12. DraftKings and FanDuel also went live with an online casino soft launch last week.
“This is an exciting moment for our state and our tribal partners,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “Connecticut has proven to be a leader when it comes to the gaming economy going back decades, and that legacy will continue with the launch of these new online options for all eligible residents. I am very proud to say that I placed the first legal, in-person sports wager in our state’s history just two weeks ago, and I encourage those who want to participate in placing wagers to do so, responsibly.”
While all of the digital options that will be available in the state are now operational, the number of retail locations could increase to up to 15 once the Connecticut Lottery and its partners begin operating. Wagering is allowed on professional, college, and amateur sports, but the new law prohibits betting on Connecticut college teams.
Here’s a look at where and how you can bet in Connecticut:
Digital wagering and iCasino options
FanDuel/Mohegan Sun
Sports betting: FanDuel is offering several specials, including a $1,000 risk-free bet and $50 to refer a friend. The company will also offer odds boosts for various outcomes. Patrons will be able to access FanDuel’s SameGame Parlay, Bad Beat Relief, and early payouts for championship games. Livestreamed events are available in the app.
iCasino: Players can get up to $1,000 back within the first 24 hours of playing with FanDuel’s risk-free bets. The platform has 90 popular casino casino games, including blackjack, roulette, video poker, and myriad recognizable slots. The casino platform will be available at mohegansuncasino.com, as well as through the FanDuel Sportsbook app.
First bet placed Tuesday: On the Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers NLCS. A bettor wagered $5 at +465 on a Popular Same Game Parlay. Here are the four legs of the parlay:
- L.A. Dodgers moneyline
- Mookie Betts to record 2+ hits
- Corey Seager to record a hit
- Trea Turner to record a hit
Connecticut joining the sports betting party like pic.twitter.com/j5L9aaTmVQ
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) October 19, 2021
DraftKings/Foxwoods
Sports betting: DraftKings is offering up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus.
iCasino: Available via the Foxwoods website as well as on the DraftKings platform, new players can get up to $2,000 in deposit sign-up bonuses and $50 in free credits.
What they’re saying: “I want to thank the Department of Consumer Protection, as well, to ensure a successful soft launch,” DraftKings’ Matt Kalish said during a Tuesday morning press conference. “These new forms of entertainment are becoming more and more prevalent throughout the country. That experience of having skin in the game is something that’s important to tens of millions of people in the U.S. We’re truly a customer-centric company, and growing up in Lowell, Foxwoods has really been part of my experience. They are a very customer-centric organization that treats everyone with a special touch.”
First bet placed Tuesday: A wager on the Los Angeles Dodgers to come back and win the NLCS. The Dodgers are down, 2-0, to the Atlanta Braves in a best-of-seven series.
Connecticut Lottery/Rush Street Interactive
Sports betting: RSI started a waiting list after the first 750 players were allowed on the platform during the trial period. PlaySugarHouse is offering a $250 sign-up bonus plus a free bet for those who were on the waiting list. Patrons will be able to access livestreamed events, bonus and rewards programs, and responsible gaming tools, including time and spend limits.
iCasino: None
What they’re saying: “We are very pleased to formally launch our award-winning online sportsbook across Connecticut following a smooth and successful trial period that demonstrated the safety and reliability of our platform,” said Rush Street Interactive CEO Richard Schwartz. “We are especially excited to come to market as the NBA and NHL seasons commence and with the MLB playoffs and NFL and collegiate football seasons all underway. It is a great time for sports fans and we look forward to offering PlaySugarHouse and Connecticut Lottery players the best betting experience in the state.”
Connecticut Lottery's chairman says online sports gaming is going smoothly, so far https://t.co/7vrRqkWdoJ
— Alfonso Straffon 🇨🇷🇺🇸🇲🇽 (@astraffon) October 15, 2021
In-person wagering
DraftKings at Foxwoods Sportsbook
A temporary version of the sportsbook opened Sept. 30 with some teller windows and kiosks in the race book, and kiosks around the casino floor. The permanent book is set to open later this year and will include floor-to-ceiling video walls, teller windows, kiosks, and seating areas.
FanDuel at Mohegan Sun
Like DraftKings, FanDuel took its first bets in Connecticut on Sept. 30 and is operating out of a temporary space with plans to open the permanent book this winter. The temporary book is located in the Bow-and-Arrow sports bar with four teller windows and 41 kiosks. The permanent space, which will feature a 15-foot LED video wall, will be located in the current race book in the Casino of the Earth.
Connecticut Lottery options
Under the new law and tribal compacts, the Connecticut Lottery is to open up to 15 retail sports betting locations with its partner, Rush Street Interactive. Among the retail venues, according to an RSI press release, will be 10 Sportech locations, including Bobby V’s locations in Stamford and Windsor Locks; Sports Haven in New Haven; and the Winners locations in Hartford, Manchester, Waterbury, Torrington, New Britain, Milford, and Norwalk. Sportech is a parimutuel operator in Connecticut, and while the retail books will be PlaySugarHouse branded, Sportech will handle day-to-day operations.
According to the Hartford Courant, the XL Center is a likely location in Hartford, and officials say sports betting could start in a temporary space in the city in early 2022. The new book could include kiosks in the concourses and in suites, in addition to a designated sportsbook location at the venue, which hosts concerts and some sporting events.
