Connecticut sports betting continues to post strong handle numbers in 2023 after launching October 2021. Even with competition from mobile betting in New York, Connecticut’s three online sportsbooks have combined to take in more than $200 million in bets since the start of the year according to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Connecticut has two sportsbook apps: FanDuel and DraftKings.
The Connecticut Lottery was approved to operate one sportsbook and announced a partnership with SugarHouse as its retail and online sportsbook provider. The Mohegan Sun partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook, which offers both online casino and sports betting. The online casino product is branded as Mohegan Sun Online Casino. DraftKings Sportsbook launched after a partnership with Foxwoods Resort.
| Connecticut Sports Betting | Live Now! |
|---|---|
| 🗓 Launch Date | October 2021 |
| 💰 Legal Betting Age | 21 years old |
| 📱 Sportsbooks Available | SugarHouse, DraftKings FanDuel |
| ✅ Betting on College Sports | Residents only can't bet on in-state college teams |
| 🎰 State Betting Commission | Connecticut Lottery |
The Best Connecticut Sports Betting Apps 2023
The state of Connecticut was only slotted to have three mobile sports betting licenses. The two mobile sportsbooks that are live for new and existing sports bettors now are listed below.
- FanDuel Sportsbook is partnered with Mohegan Sun
- DraftKings Sportsbook is partnered with Foxwoods Resort Casino
The Connecticut Lottery wanted to choose a sports betting operator that had “an established sports betting software platform that is currently in use in at least three US or international jurisdictions.” FanDuel Sportsbook partnered with Mohegan Sun while DraftKings Sportsbook partnered with Foxwoods.
CT Sports Betting Apps Overview
FanDuel Sportsbook Connecticut (9.6/10)
- Opening Bonus: $2,500 no sweat first bet
- Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
- In-State Partner: Mohegan Sun
- Key Features: Search bar, parlay promos, multiple odds formats, DFS
FanDuel is one of the largest and most well-known operators for American sports betting. It provides daily fantasy sports already in Connecticut, too, making it a well-known choice for general gambling enthusiasts.
FanDuel Sportsbook boasts a slick and streamlined app plus the ability to change the format of your odds. Additional special promotions and a useful search bar located at the bottom of the screen make this one of the most enjoyable and user-friendly apps on the market.
DraftKings Sportsbook Connecticut (9.3/10)
- Opening Bonus: 20% match up to $1,000 (5x playthrough)
- Available Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
- In-State Partner: Foxwoods Resort Casino
- Key Features: Search bar, odds boosters, multiple odds formats, DFS
DraftKings offers retail sports betting with Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. It also offers online DFS through a partnership with Foxwoods.
DraftKings is one of the highest quality sports betting operators in the country, present in almost all states with legal online sportsbooks. It’s also the exclusive sports betting provider in nearby New Hampshire.
DraftKings does provide a deposit match, but it is not as strong as SugarHouse. Though you can get a larger maximum, reaching that maximum is simply unattainable for almost all bettors. Your first deposit is matched at 20% and requires a 5x playthrough.
Connecticut Sports Betting Updates
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March 31, 2023:
SugarHouse CT announces they’re ceasing all operations, cutting the list of available sports betting operators in CT down to two.
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February 6, 2023:
Connecticut sports betting continues to boom overall. The CT sports betting handle dropped slightly to $160 million in December 2022 but the state still posted a top-five mark in both handle and revenue.
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November 17, 2022:
Connecticut sports betting saw another large jump in September, getting a 39% increase in handle from August. The state’s operators took in $80.3 million in August, then $130.5 million in September. Everyone loves football!
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October 24, 2022:
The sports betting market in Connecticut is booming, as the state brought in $11.1 million in taxes on the $115 million revenue figure from its first 12 months of operating. Expect this number to continue to grow. The legendary University of Connecticut’s basketball program tips off in two weeks, but unfortunately, the state does not allow in-state betting on their college teams.
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August 22, 2022:
Connecticut’s three online sportsbooks carried a successful month’s worth of betting during July. July’s revenue was reported at $7.6 million, netting almost $860,000 in taxes paid. Operators handled 9.6 percent of the $78.3 million wagered.
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June 16, 2022:
Connecticut’s three sportsbooks handled $107.75 million during the month of May, down 1.5% compared to $109.44 million in April.
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May 31, 2022:
Sportech, an international betting and technology business and partner with the Connecticut Lottery for retail sports betting, said in its trading report that sports betting continues to experience a high rate of growth in the state and should see betting handle in the Group’s Connecticut Venues come close to that of pari-mutuel for the full year.
Connecticut Legal Sportsbooks
It’s never a good idea to make an account with or give your money to an offshore or illegal betting site.
In a nutshell, offshore sites aren’t regulated or overseen by any authoritative body. This means no one prevents them from taking your personal information or cash and doing whatever they want with it. Furthermore, offshore sites don’t usually have good digital security, placing your personal information more at risk.
Licensed and regulated sportsbook apps have excellent digital security. The three licensed apps in Connecticut are beholden to the CT Lottery, which can perform an investigation on behalf of players if there’s a discrepancy with winnings or withdrawals.
If you have an issue with an illegal site, you have zero recourse. The company’s jurisdiction won’t do anything about it even if a sportsbook is refusing to pay your funds or selling your personal information. These sites are also notorious for disappearing suddenly – and taking all their members’ money with them.
Connecticut Sports Betting Revenue
Connecticut’s sports betting handle in December was $160.2 million, down slightly compared to November’s handle, according to a report by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The state’s sportsbooks took in $163 million in bets during the month of November.
Long-term Connecticut sports betting revenue projections are still up for speculation, however, we can make some educated assumptions based on current statewide deals for casinos and other gambling activities through the licensed Native American tribes.
For example, long-standing gambling agreements already have both the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribes providing 25% of their slot revenue to the state government. Since this agreement’s inception, it’s resulted in over $8 billion in state revenue (or $270 million annually), and this number will only grow once sports betting is fully legalized. Both tribes get exclusive gambling rights in exchange.
In fact, online gaming and sports betting combined are projected to generate as much as $175 million in revenue over five years. When the Connecticut Lottery announced that it will partner with Rush Street Interactive, Chairman of the CLC Board of Directors Rob Simmelkjaer said the preliminary 10-year agreement includes a guaranteed $170 million minimum revenue for the Lottery from online and retail sports betting.
States that already have sports betting legalized see more than 80% of their sports betting revenue coming from online apps. It’s simply easier and more convenient for people to place wagers from the comfort of their own homes.
How Connecticut Compares To Other States
Many nearby states in the Northeast have already legalized online sports betting, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Both states have relatively relaxed sports wagering rules, with both of them allowing in-state collegiate sports betting.
This has generated a significant amount of income for those states’ governments.
Connecticut, however, does not allow bettors to place wagers on in-state college teams unless they are placed in a bracketed competition such as March Madness.
Connecticut Betting Successes And Failures
Connecticut Sports Betting Success
Connecticut’s sports betting handle in November was $128 million, according to a report by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. That more than doubled the total from October ($54 million) when mobile sports betting launched.
Connecticut has allowed pari-mutuel greyhound and horse racing for a few decades without any major hiccups. These activities are regulated by the Connecticut Lottery, which oversees all gambling activities within the state.
All of this indicates that Connecticut’s launch of online and retail sports betting won’t have too many issues.
Connecticut Professional Sports Teams
Unlike states such as Virginia, which don’t have any of their own professional sports teams on which to wager, Connecticut sports bettors have options.
Connecticut is home to one of the most well-known WNBA franchises: the Connecticut Sun, which plays its games at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Because Connecticut is pretty small, residents can also enjoy wagers for close professional sports teams from other states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. A lot of Connecticut residents are already fans of Boston franchises, including the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, and the Boston Bruins.
All in all, Connecticut sports bettors will have plenty of excellent choices and deep betting markets to explore once sports betting launches over the next year or so.
Connecticut College Sports Teams
Connecticut is one of many states that place a variety of restrictions on college sports betting.
In Connecticut’s case, which is the same as in Virginia and in New Jersey, there is no betting on in-state college teams unless those teams are placed in bracketed competitions such as March Madness.
Colleges located in Connecticut include the UConn Huskies, Yale Bulldogs, Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, and Fairfield Stags.
Other Sports To Bet On In Connecticut
Alongside the classic sports betting options described above, players can also enjoy off-track betting in Connecticut. This allows sports betting enthusiasts to place wagers on both greyhound and regular horse racing at 15 pari-mutuel locations. This activity has been legal since 1976.
Ultimately, the future of Connecticut sports betting looks bright.
How To Bet In Connecticut
There are a few steps that need to take place before a sports bettor in Connecticut can place their first wager. Residents should follow along below to make sure they are placing their wagers legally.
Choose A Sportsbook
Choose a sportsbook by examining what they offer, the kind of odds and betting markets they provide, and what the opening bonus is so you can enjoy the maximum amount of bonus betting credit right off the bat. All of the best online sportsbooks will let you peruse their offerings before you join, including the terms and conditions.
Download Your App
After picking a sportsbook, you can use the direct link on the sportsbook’s website to the App Store or Google Play Store. You can also search for the iOS or Android app directly in their respective stores. Just be sure the sportsbook you’re choosing is specifically for Connecticut and not a different state.
Register On The App
The registration process will involve providing personal information to verify your identity. This includes information like Social Security number, date of birth, and physical address.
Don’t forget to provide any welcome bonuses and promo codes during this step or the next.
Make A Deposit
It’s best to use PayPal or an online bank transfer when making a deposit or withdrawing your winnings at a sportsbook. Credit cards are usually rejected. But if they’re not, the transaction counts as a cash advance, which comes with pesky fees. Plus, it’s not available for withdrawals.
Place Wagers
Select your bet, enter your wager amount, then add it to your bet slip. When the event is over, you can keep your money in your account or cash out using PayPal or an online bank transfer.
Connecticut Sports Betting FAQs
Yes. Online Connecticut sports betting launched statewide on Oct. 19, 2021.
Yes. Legal Connecticut sports betting apps are officially licensed and regulated, so they are safe to use. Licensed online sportsbook apps must have excellent security for their users per regulations. DraftKings and FanDuel, the two licensed sportsbooks in the state, are reputable companies that Connecticut bettors can use with confidence.
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports is legal in Connecticut, and DraftKings Sportsbook launched statewide on Oct. 19, 2021. It has an existing partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Yes. FanDuel Daily Fantasy Sports has been legal and accessible in Connecticut, and FanDuel Sportsbook has partnered with Mohegan Sun. Mohegan Sun Casino operates its online casino, mobile sports betting, and DFS.
No, but you must be at least 21 years old and physically inside state lines to legally place a bet in Connecticut.
Connecticut has a wide variety of sports and events for players to wager on. These include staple professional US sports leagues, such as the NFL, NHL, NBA and WNBA, MLB, and more. College sports betting is also available, although not on in-state teams. Connecticut was already home to over a dozen pari-mutuel horse racing and greyhound racing across a variety of locations within the state. You can also bet on horse racing legally online while in Connecticut.
More Resources On Connecticut Sports Betting
- Connecticut Lottery, where individuals can learn more about gambling regulation within their state
- Connecticut Mirror, a newspaper with regular sports betting news
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