Legal sports betting is available in Connecticut, and you can find both retail and online sports betting options available. However, it did take Connecticut longer than most wanted for the state to legalize this industry and begin accepting wagers.

It took a new gaming compact with a pair of Native American tribes to get this industry up and running, but the state lottery is involved as well. Connecticut has been able to attract multiple top online sportsbook operators, and those provide great options for bettors in the state.

The overall numbers that have come from Connecticut have been relatively small, but sports betting has gotten more popular as the biggest sports are in action. There is currently no room for growth in the sports betting market, and it doesn’t appear that things will change moving forward.

Connecticut has a strong sports culture despite not being home to any professional sports teams of the “Big Four” leagues. Sports bettors have put up some impressive numbers so far, but a restrictive rule when it comes to college betting has limited the overall amount of bets that can be made.

Connecticut has always been a state with a very limited amount of gambling options, and all of the casino gambling was done through Native American tribes. Sports betting didn’t become a realistic possibility until the federal ban on sports betting was lifted back in May 2018, but it took Connecticut a while to get involved.

State lawmakers did explore sports betting all the way back in 2018, but it was just a study that was done to check out the industry. When lawmakers got together for a special session in 2019, sports betting was not discussed in any fashion.

Lawmakers again made an attempt to legalize sports betting back in 2020 as there were two bills that were brought to the table for discussion. Ultimately, lawmakers decided against these two bills and it wouldn’t be until 2021 when legal sports betting became a law.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe reached an agreement with Governor Ned Lamont in early 2021 for new gaming compacts. Those new gaming compacts included legal sports betting, and the state legislature approved the new compact.

When those compacts were signed it gave both tribes to right to offer legal sports betting at their casinos. Each tribe could also have access to an online sports betting skin, and they were free to partner with an online sports betting operator.

Through legislation the Connecticut Lottery was also granted an online sports betting license to set up and run its own online sportsbook app.

Despite being a relatively small state, Connecticut is a state that has put up some impressive sports betting numbers. Things started off a bit slow in the sports betting industry, but things have really picked up in a big way over the final few months of 2022.

Total sports betting handle for the state of Connecticut since October 2021 is now over $1.8 billion. The total sports betting revenue since that time has come in at $163.3 million, and a majority of that number has come in 2022.

Sportsbooks in Connecticut have won 8.8% of the wagers that have been placed since October 2021, and that has helped boost the gross revenue and tax revenue numbers. Since sports betting was first launched the state has collected over $16.3 million in tax revenue.

Connecticut finished 2022 by having three straight months with over $160 million in total sports betting handle, and that trend should continue moving forward. The monthly revenue record for Connecticut was set in November 2022 and it was just over $17 million.

There are still very modest numbers compared to some of the biggest states in the U.S. with sports betting, but Connecticut sportsbooks are doing better than expected.

Sportsbook Apps in Connecticut

Online sports betting in Connecticut did not launch at the same time as retail sports betting, but it wasn’t too far behind. The sports betting law in Connecticut allows for just three online sports betting licenses, and all three of those have already been claimed.

Even though only having three online sportsbooks does limit the options for sports bettors, two of the biggest names in sports betting have launched in Connecticut. The Native American tribes in the state did have the opportunity to launch their own mobile app, but they instead partnered with online sports betting operators.

DraftKings is the chosen partner of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and it’s a sports betting operator that is seen in many states throughout the country. DraftKings used to solely focus on daily fantasy sports, but it has made a smooth and successful transition into sports betting.

The Mohegan Tribe has partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook to provide online sports betting in the state. When it comes to online sports betting in the United States it is FanDuel that is the clear leader in online market share.

The Connecticut Lottery also decided to partner with an online sports betting operator in order to launch and offer mobile sports betting. SugarHouse Sportsbook was selected as the partner for the lottery and it is the third-most popular online sportsbook or mobile app in Connecticut.

Land-Locked Locations to Bet on Sports in Connecticut

Since it took a new gaming compact in order for sports betting to become legal in the state of Connecticut, those Native American tribes control all of the retail sports betting. Those two Native American tribes would be the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan Tribe, and they both have big casinos on tribal land.

The Connecticut Lottery also has the ability to establish retail sportsbooks throughout the state, but those are much smaller than the big casino sportsbooks. Up to 15 retail sportsbooks can be established by the Connecticut Lottery, and eight of those locations have already been opened.

The Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the locations where legal sports betting is offered in-person in Connecticut and that’s owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. The Mohegan Sun is the other major retail sports betting location in the state.

Those two casinos have retail sportsbooks that are equipped with sports betting kiosks, but you will also find live tellers as well.

Sports Teams to Bet on in Connecticut

There are four major professional sports in the United States, and the state of Connecticut does not have a team in any of those leagues. That is one reason that Connecticut hasn’t put up huge sports betting numbers, but the size of the state plays a role as well.

Even though there are no major professional sports teams in the state of Connecticut, there are still some very popular teams. There doesn’t appear to be a clear favorite team for sports fans as allegiances are split among the fans.

Betting on the NFL is extremely popular with sports bettors in Connecticut, just as it is in other states. The three most popular teams for sports fans in Connecticut include the New England Patriots, New York Giants, and New York Jets.

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees tend to be the most popular MLB teams, and the NBA teams from those cities (Celtics, Knicks) are popular with basketball fans. Connecticut used to have an NHL team, Hartford Whalers, but that team has been out of the capital city for nearly 30 years.

The UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams are extremely popular with sports fans in the state, but bettingteams is only available in a tournament setting.

FAQ for betting in Connecticut

When did sports betting launch in Connecticut?

Retail sports betting officially launched in Connecticut back in September 2021. It wasn’t long until online sportsbooks went live as those mobile sportsbook apps launched in October 2021.

The legal sports betting age in the state of Connecticut is set at 21 years of age. Nearly all of the states that have legal sports betting have set the minimum gambling age at 21, but that’s not always the case.

Can I bet on college sporting events in Connecticut?

Betting on college sporting events is legal in the state of Connecticut, but there are also some restrictions that are placed on this type of betting. Sportsbooks cannot offer betting on in-state college teams unless those teams are competing in a tournament.

Are there any mobile sports betting apps in Connecticut?

Yes, the sports betting law in Connecticut allows for three online sports betting apps, and all three have already been claimed. The three mobile sportsbook apps that are available include DraftKings, FanDuel, and SugarHouse

Can I get a welcome bonus from sportsbooks in Connecticut?

Yes, all three of the mobile sportsbook apps available in the state will offer some sort of welcome bonus. Each welcome bonus is going to be different, allowing you to choose the one that works the best for you.