• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Connecticut Sets First Sports Betting Hearing

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
February 22, 2019
in Regulation
connecticut sports betting foxwoods

Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

When Connecticut lawmakers held one of the first public hearings on sports betting in the nation in 2018, there were plenty of fireworks. Among the highlights was this gem from Joe Verrengia (D-District 20), the chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee: “What I’m not for is legislation that in some way, shape or form would line the pockets of MLB, NBA or any other major sports owners.”

Verrengia’s comment was in response to testimony from NBA Vice President Dan Spillane, who, at the time was lobbying for the unpopular “integrity fee.”

Nearly a year later, the same committee with the same chairman will hold Connecticut’s first sports betting public hearing, at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The witness list will not be set until the morning of the hearing, but depending on who signs up, the hearing could be explosive again, as Connecticut lawmakers have been struggling to find a way work with the two local tribes who run the state’s casinos, commercial entities interested in building casinos in multiple locations, the state lottery, and the pro leagues are still seeking an off-the-top cut by some name, as well as a mandate to use “official league data.”

Sports betting has political power in CT

Sports betting has plenty of political power behind it in Connecticut. Besides Verrengia openly supporting sports betting, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz and Senate President pro tempore Martin Looney have both gone on record as supporting sports betting. And Connecticut is likely feeling more and more pressure to legalize, since neighbor Rhode Island has already done so, and both New Hampshire and Massachusetts have active sports betting legislation — 15 bills have been filed in Massachusetts — circulating around their respective capitols.

Tuesday’s hearing is predicated on a handful of gaming bills, including SB 17 and SB 665, both of which are sports betting placeholder bills. In fact the entire text of SB 665 reads: “To establish competitive sports wagering on certain sporting events.”

SB 17 is a bi-partisan bill with sponsors from both the Senate and the House that would legalize mobile sports betting tied to the state’s two tribal casinos — Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Neither bill has any framework, regulatory detail or tax information.

“If we’re going to have sports betting, we need to be all in,” Verrengia said on the CTScoreboard Podcast in early February. “And that certainly includes mobile.”

Another key change to the landscape since last year is that Connecticut has a new governor. In 2018, then-Governor Dannel Malloy was opposed to sports betting, but jumped in toward the end of the legislative session to try to broker a deal between the state and the tribes, and even went so far as to offer a special session, but that didn’t happen. New Governor Ned Lamont supports sports betting, though he stopped short of including revenue from it in his budget.

According to the Boston Globe, Lamont identified during his state of the state address earlier this week that sports betting — as well as recreational marijuana sales — as two key potential sources of revenue that should be legalized.

But as with other states, Connecticut’s main hurdle is finding common ground with the powerful tribes, which run the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos. Sports betting is not clearly addressed in the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, nor in Connecticut’s current tribal-state compacts. However the tribes contended last year that they have the exclusive right to offer sports betting. Meanwhile Connecticut is also exploring the construction of several commercial casinos, in particular in Bridgeport and East Windsor.

The balancing act will be on display come Tuesday.

ShareTweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country. You can reach Jill at jill@bettercollective.com

Related Posts

wood-maple-syrup-sign-barn
Legislation

Is Vermont Preparing To Consider Legalizing Sports Betting?

September 21, 2022
Rock-in-road
Regulation

Sports Betting Not Coming To Massachusetts This Year

October 28, 2021
Load More

Top Stories

fanduel-retail-sportsbook-front

Requiem For The So-Called ‘Risk-Free Bet’

February 2, 2023
garnett mgm springfield

Sports Betting Launches In Massachusetts, Giving Three Retail Books A Head Start

January 31, 2023
fanatics-grand-opening

Fanatics Sportsbook At FedEx Field Offers Unique Retail Option In Maryland

January 23, 2023
Shutterstock

Missouri Legislators Lament Exodus Of Bettors To Neighboring States

January 27, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – Where To Play, Bonus Offers And Promo Codes

by Brian Pempus
February 2, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
February 3, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
January 17, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
October 20, 2022

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
October 6, 2022

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

gambling therapy
ncpg
igaming ontario
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (MI/NJ/OH/PA/WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
19+. Please play responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. 
Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to participate in igaming in Ontario. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you, or someone you know, has a gambling problem in Ontario and wants help, please visit ConnexOntario or call their helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Operators on this website operate pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario.

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News

loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location