Gambling Laws in Connecticut
Key Points
- Gambling is legal in Connecticut and regulated by Connecticut General Statutes 12-557 et seq.
- Residents must be 21 to play casino games in Connecticut, but only 18 to participate in the lottery or play horse race betting.
- The Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection (Gaming Division) regulates all forms of legal gambling, including lottery and sports betting in Connecticut.
- In 1975, the state legalized lottery games by passing the Connecticut Lottery Corporation Act.
Is Gambling Legal in Connecticut?
Gambling is legal in Connecticut. The state's gambling industry comprises a variety of gambling activities such as casino gambling, lottery & bingo, sports betting, off-track greyhound race betting, horse racing, dog racing, and Jai alai. Gambling in Connecticut is regulated by the Connecticut General Statutes 12-557 et seq.
While a person has to be 21 to play casino games in Connecticut, a person only has to be 18 to participate in the lottery or play horse race betting and charitable gaming.
The Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection (Gaming Division) regulates all forms of legal gambling, including lottery and sports betting in accordance with Connecticut gambling laws.
The division is mandated to ensure integrity in the conduct of licensed gamblers and gamers in Connecticut. It also ensures that all Connecticut gaming industry players comply with the gaming laws and the tribal-state agreements.
Connecticut Gambling History
The history of gambling in Connecticut can be traced back to 1876 when harness racing began in the State. However, these gambling events remained largely unregulated in the State until 1976, when betting on horse racing and Jai Alai was legalized.
Bettings and gambling in Connecticut were initially run through a network of off-track betting venues - the Connecticut OTB - which was then under the control of the Division of Special Revenue before being sold in 1993 to Autotote Enterprises, Inc.
In 1975, the state legalized lottery games by passing the Connecticut Lottery Corporation Act. The Act provides for the sale of lottery tickets, the deposit of lottery receipts and licensing of lottery agents. The Act also established the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, which was responsible for regulating lottery games in the state.
In 1963, Connecticut State lawmakers passed the Connecticut Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act). This Act allowed qualified non-profit organizations to raise funds from various activities. Some of the activities include Bingo which was legalized in 1939, Bazaars and raffles in 1955, and sealed tickets in 1987.
Non-Profit organizations were formerly allowed to operate casino games during Las Vegas Night Fund-raisers, but the law permitting that was repealed in 2003. So, only non-profit organizations issued permits by Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection Charitable Gaming Unit have the authority to conduct casino games in Connecticut now.
The history of gambling in Connecticut continued with the legalization of table games in 1992, and the legalization of slot machines in 1993.
In 2021, House Bill 6451 was signed into law. This law brought about a new era in Connecticut online gambling history as it legalized sports betting, CT online gambling, and fantasy contests in the state. Following the enactment of this Act, many Connecticut online gambling sites have sprung up. Some of the best online gambling sites in Connecticut include the following: Betonline, Wild Casino, Every Game, X Bet, Bet US, Bovada, etc.
Connecticut Online Casino Laws
Online casinos are legal in Connecticut. In 2021, HB 6451 was passed into law, thus making Connecticut the seventh State to legalize licensed online casinos in the US. In addition to online casino games, Connecticut's gambling laws also legalize online poker sites, Connecticut online sports gambling, interactive keno, daily fantasy sports, and online lottery sales within the state's borders.
The gambling law also allows persons at least 21 years old to sign up for online casinos and sportsbooks.
The bill granted permission to the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes to offer their virtual patrons casino games online and daily fantasy sports. It also allows the tribes to accept sports wagers at their facilities on tribal lands and over the internet.
Upon passing this law, the Mohegan tribe partnered with Fanduel to operate the Mohegan Sun Online Casino. Similarly, the Mashantucket tribe partnered with Foxwood to operate DraftKings. Both of these platforms now offer online casino games to lovers in the state of Connecticut.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division oversees the online casino gaming industry. It has the authority to issue four types of licenses permitting online gaming and retail sports wagering in Connecticut. These licenses include the following:
A master wagering license only for the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, Mohegan tribe and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to provide different forms of gaming to consumers in the state. </p>
An online gaming operator license issued to businesses partnering with a master wagering licensee to provide an online wagering platform for fantasy contests, casino gaming, sports wagering, lottery draw games, and keno. </p>
A retail sports wagering license for businesses partnering with the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to provide in-person CT sports betting at retail locations. </p>
An online gaming service provider license for businesses supplying specific equipment, goods, and services for any of the above categories of licensees.
With the passing of the gambling law legalizing online casinos, operators have begun developing a long list of enticing games to play. Game providers such as NetEnt and IGT have also developed a list of products to be added to game libraries with welcome bonuses that may take the form of no-deposit offers and weekly or daily promos.
Some of the available Connecticut casino games include the following:
Table Games
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Casino Stud
- Roulette
- Mississippi Stud
Slot
- Bonanza
- Cleopatra
- Mercy of the gods
- Raging Rhino
- Starburst
Although currently, there are no provisions for online live dealer casino games to allow players to sit with their computer or mobile phones and play with real dealers and players in Connecticut. There’s no doubt that this feature will be added with time.
In-Person Casino Laws in Connecticut
In-person casino gambling is legal in Connecticut by virtue of the Connecticut General Statutes 12-557 et seq. However, as of 2022, the state only has two land-based casino games: the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville and the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket.
Both casinos offer slots, video poker, and traditional table games ranging from **blackjack to roulette. *Gamers* **also get to play on thousands of slot machines. As a result of the monopoly enjoyed, the Connecticut casinos must pay 25% of the *slot machines' revenue to the state*.
Sports Betting Laws in Connecticut
The passing of HB 6451 in 2021 made sports betting legal in Connecticut. Like other gambling activities, sports betting is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division. CT sports betting licenses provide permission only for ten years, and the state taxes revenue from the licensees at 13.75%.
Connecticut state laws allow both online and in-person sports betting. As long as you're 21 or older and within state lines, you can bet at any of the three Connecticut online sports gambling sites: Fanduel, DraftKings, and Sugar House.
In-person sports betting is also available at the Mohegan Sports Casino (operated in partnership with Fanduel SportsBook), Foxwoods Resort Casino (in collaboration with DraftKings), or any other of the eight retail locations sponsored by the Connecticut Lottery in partnership with PlaySugar House.
Persons interested in sports betting in Connecticut can place bets on any of the following:
- Professional sporting events where the athletes earn payments that exceed their expenses. This also includes minor league baseball, tennis, and mixed martial arts.
- College sports or E-sports. This would, however, not be available for betting when one of the teams is a Connecticut team and the event is not a tournament between colleges.
- Olympics or other international sports such as the World Cup
With no big league sports team located in Connecticut, most residents of Connecticut who are interested in placing bets on NFL matches either bet on the New York Giants, New England Patriots, and New York Jets. For NBA lovers, New York Knicks is the most popular team, while the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are famous in Major League Basketball.
Connecticut Hockey fans also often support the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers or New York Islanders. This allegiance to New York and Boston teams in Connecticut sports betting is because of the lack of any big-league sports team in Connecticut and the State’s closeness to New York City.
Also, although the University of Connecticut has a men's and women's basketball team, as earlier mentioned, bettors in Connecticut are not allowed to bet on Connecticut college sports unless the teams are playing in a tournament.
Daily Fantasy Site Laws in Connecticut
The passing into law of HB 6451 makes Daily fantasy sports legal in Connecticut. However, fantasy contest providers can only operate by maintaining a relationship with one of the Master Wagering Licensees (Mohegan Tribe, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, or the Connecticut Lottery Corporation) and applying for an online gaming operator license.
The licensing fee at the initial stage is $250,000 and can be renewed for $100,000. Currently, the only operator licensed to organize online daily fantasy sports in Connecticut is DraftKings.
Player winnings from daily fantasy sports are subject to 25% federal and 10% state taxes. For more information on DFS taxes, you can visit the website of the IRS or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Service.
The legal age for participating in daily fantasy sports is 18 years old. If a player is caught engaging in gambling underage, such a player can be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor which is punishable by a term of imprisonment not longer than one year or a fine of $ 2,000.
Lottery Laws in Connecticut
Lotteries have been legal in Connecticut since 1972, when the Connecticut Lottery Corporation Act was passed. While General Statutes of Connecticut Title 12-568, et seq of the Act deals with the operation of lotteries, General Statutes of Connecticut Title 12-800, et seq makes provisions for establishing the Connecticut Lottery Corporation.
Lottery games in Connecticut include instate games like Play 3, Play 4, and Cash 5, and multi-jurisdictional lotteries like PowerBall, Mega Millions, and Lucky for Life.
Racing Betting Laws in Connecticut
Racing betting, such as horse and dog racing, is legal in Connecticut. Connecticut has no race tracks. Although a proposal was filed in the late 1970s to allow for a race track to be built in Walcott, it failed to see the light of day as it did not get State approval.
Despite its lack of race tracks, Connecticut has always been one of the US's most innovative states concerning betting and gambling. For example, it was an early adopter of the off-track wagering system, establishing a network where residents could wager on races from other states as far back as 1976. It also has 12 off-track race betting parlors, which include the following:
- Winners Bradley (Windsor Locks, CT)
- Winners Hartford (Hartford, CT)
- Winners Milford (Milford, CT)
- Winners Manchester (Manchester, CT)
- Winners New Britain (New Britain, CT)
- Winners Putnam (Putnam, CT)
- Winners Norwalk (Norwalk, CT)
- Winners Shoreline Star (Bridgeport, CT)
- Winners Sports Haven (New Haven, CT)
- Winners Torrington (Torrington, CT)
- Winners Stamford (Stamford, CT)
- Winners Waterbury (Waterbury, CT)
By virtue of HB 6451, online race betting is legal in Connecticut, and the following sites are examples of racing betting sites where residents could place their off-track bets online:
- AmWager.com
- BetAmerica
- DRF Bets
- Ibetmohegan.com
- NYRA Bets
- KeenelandSelect
- Twinspires
- Mywinners.com
- Xpressbet
- TVG
Pending Legislation on Gambling in Connecticut
Between 2019 and 2022, the Connecticut legislature has proposed the following changes to the gambling industry in the State:
- CT SB110 (An Act Concerning Funding for Problem Gambling Services): this bill was referred to the joint committee on appropriations on February 17, 2022. If passed into law, the act is expected to devote a certain amount of money to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to increase access to problem gambling services due to the increased need for CT online gambling.
- CT SB134 (An Act Repealing the Prohibition Against Accepting Advanced Deposit Wagers): this bill, if passed into law, is poised to repeal the provisions of Section 12 - 572b of the General Statute and stop the prohibition against the acceptance of advanced deposit wagers.
- CT - HB5174 (An Act Prohibiting the Operation of Greyhound Racing in the State): this bill is sponsored by the Committee on Public Safety and Security of the Connecticut House of Representatives. If passed into law, the bill is poised to repeal Section 12 - 574 of the General Statute provisions and, in turn, prohibit greyhound racing in Connecticut.
- CT-HB5190 (An Act Establishing a Commission on Gaming): this bill was due for a public hearing on the 25th of February 2020 and if passed into law, it seeks to establish a Commission on Gaming and transfer oversight of gambling in this state from the Department of Consumer Protection to the commission.
Connecticut is one of the states with a budding gambling industry. Although gambling is generally illegal, the State still permits certain gambling activities. They include the following:
- Horse racing
- Dog racing
- Jai Alai
- Lottery
- Sports Betting
- Casino Games
- Charitable Gambling
