Connecticut Sports Betting
Sports betting is legal and live in Connecticut after online sportsbooks in the state started taking wagers in October 2021. DraftKings, FanDuel and the SugarHouse sports betting apps offer bets and bonuses to new users in Connecticut.
Top CT sports betting apps for 2023
What’s happening in CT sports betting right now
- May 17, 2023 — Connecticut sports betting handle hit $126.6 million in April, down 20.8% month-over-month. That total was up about $10 million year-over-year, however.
- April 20, 2023 — The Connecticut Lottery posted a request for proposal in its search for a new online sports betting operator to join CT and replace Rush Street Interactive. RSI will continue to operate online and in-person until a replacement is found.
- April 19, 2023 — Connecticut sports betting handle rose 17.6% month-over-month to $160 million in March. That total was also a 14% increase year-over-year.
- April 3, 2023 — The University of Connecticut men’s basketball team won the National Championship with a 76-59 win over San Diego State. UConn was a No. 4 seed in the tournament.
- March 31, 2023 — Rush Street Interactive (RSI), operating under the SugarHouse brand, pulled out of its agreement with the Connecticut Lottery, less than two years into a 10-year contract. RSI had struggled to keep up with DraftKings and FanDuel in the state.
- March 30, 2023 — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has renewed his call to end college sports betting partnerships in order to combat underage sports betting.
- March 20, 2023 — Sports betting handle fell 18.7% in February as the state took in $136.5 million in bets last month after hitting $167.7 million in January. Revenue was also down to $8.55 million in February from $14 million in January.
Connecticut sports betting snapshot
| Is online sports betting legal in Connecticut? | Yes. Online sports betting is legal in Connecticut, and sportsbooks have been taking wagers since October 2021 after Gov. Ned Lamont signed new tribal gambling compacts. |
| What sportsbook apps are legal in CT? | DraftKings, FanDuel and SugarHouse. SugarHouse partnered with the Connecticut Lottery. |
| What sports can I bet on in Connecticut? | All major sports leagues and international contests are available to wager on in Connecticut. Bettors can place wagers on college sports, but they can’t bet on Connecticut-based teams unless the team is taking part in a tournament, such as March Madness. |
| Who can bet on sports in Connecticut? | You must be 21 or older to bet on sports online or in person in the state. |
Comparing the top sports betting apps in Connecticut
Choosing which sportsbook to use comes down to what works best for you and the type of bettor you are. Each book differs in the breadth of the markets they offer, the perks they provide, and the user experiences they create. Here is a quick guide to two sportsbook apps available in Connecticut. The Connecticut Lottery also operates an app in Connecticut, but is looking for a new partner after SugarHouse (Rush Street) pulled out of an agreement between the two.
1. PlaySugarHouse and the CT Lottery
PlaySugarHouse operates as BetRivers in most other states where it is available. In Connecticut, SugarHouse partnered with the Connecticut Lottery to offer an online sportsbook, but the user experience still mirrors that of BetRivers in other states. Sugarhouse offers a competitive new-player sign-up bonus and membership in its loyalty rewards program, iRush. Bettors can acquire reward points by placing bets and redeem those points for bonus wagers. The app itself is easy to use and has a great depth of available bets, but many reviews report poor customer service and longer wait times for payouts.
- App store rating: 4.4 (iOS), 3.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Simple app is easy for beginners to use
- Best feature: iRush Rewards
- CT bonus offer: $500
2. DraftKings Sportsbook
One of the top online sportsbooks in the US, DraftKings combines a sleek app and top-of-the-line live betting to offer one of the best betting experiences around. The Boston-based company offers some of the consistently best odds and betting options, as well as betting pools that let you create private contests to play with friends and family.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Sleek platform with the best live-betting options
- Best feature: Betting pools
3. FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is a market leader in a number of US states and offers a user-friendly app as well as various bonuses. You will find lots of odds boosts and promotions on the FanDuel app, and bettors can also place same-game parlays that include multiple player props for the same event, a feature not available at every book.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: User-friendly app that offers a smooth experience
- Best feature: Same-game parlays
Best CT sportsbook bonuses and how to get started
With just three legal sportsbooks operating in Connecticut, getting ready to place your bets should take only a couple of minutes considering the available options. After you choose a sportsbook or sportsbooks, just follow the prompts and provide the necessary information.
Here are the bonuses currently available at the three books in Connecticut:
- PlaySugarHouse promo: Get a second-chance bet for up to $500.
Before taking advantage of the welcome promos, take the time to understand the available sign-up offers and bonuses. Here are some common options:
- Deposit match: The sportsbook will match a portion of your deposit with credits that you can bet with. The match is not eligible for withdrawal until you meet its playthrough requirement.
- Free bets: A free bet just for signing up to play. You likely won’t be able to withdraw the amount of the credit as it’s meant for you to bet with.
- Loyalty program — A loyalty program awards you points for each wager. You can redeem points for various perks, and as you play more, the benefits improve.
10 quick facts about Connecticut sports betting
- Retail sports betting in Connecticut launched on Sept. 30, 2021. Online sports betting soft-launched on Oct. 12, with a full launch soon after on Oct. 19.
- Two tribes that operate casinos in Connecticut have reached deals with the state to provide two of the three online sportsbook platforms available.
- The Mohegan Tribe partnered with FanDuel, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation partnered with DraftKings.
- The Connecticut Lottery operates the third sports betting platform in partnership with PlaySugarHouse, a Rush Street property.
- At least 15 sportsbooks applied for that third online sports betting skin, though the lottery did not reveal the identities of any of the applicants.
- Lobbyists from MLB and the NBA both testified in support of sports betting in Connecticut before legislation passed.
- Sports betting licenses in the state are good for 10 years.
- Connecticut reached $1 billion in handle in nine months.
- The state taxes sports betting revenue at a rate of 13.75%.
- You can’t legally bet on in-state colleges in Connecticut unless they are playing in a tournament.
Connecticut sports betting law and regulations
When legislators passed HB 6451 in 2021, the bill ratified the details of the new gambling compact between the state and tribes.
That compact gave out just three online skins in the state, one for FanDuel, which partnered with the Mohegan Tribe; one for DraftKings, which partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation; and one for the Connecticut Lottery, which partnered with SugarHouse Sportsbook.
Under the compact, the CT Lottery can also operate up to 15 retail sportsbooks in Connecticut (there are eight open currently) and can outsource some of them to Sportech, the state’s off-track betting provider.
Sports betting licenses in the state are good for 10 years, and the state taxes revenue at a rate of 13.75%.
Popular sports to bet on in Connecticut
While Connecticut is technically part of New England, the southwest portion of the state is close to New York City, meaning the sports allegiances of many residents are split between New York and Boston.
With no big-league sports teams located in Connecticut, favorites include the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets in the NFL, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in Major League Baseball and the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in the NBA.
The state capital, Hartford, used to have an NHL team, the Whalers, but it moved to North Carolina in 1997. So, hockey fans have the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers or New York Islanders as the closest teams for which to root. There are American Hockey League teams in Bridgeport and Hartford affiliated with the Islanders and Rangers, respectively.
The University of Connecticut Huskies men’s and women’s basketball teams are popular and have had a lot of success, with the women winning the national championship 10 times since 2000 and the men winning four times since 1999. Bettors in Connecticut are not allowed to bet on those teams, however, unless they are playing in a tournament.
CT sports betting history
2023: RSI, operating as the SugarHouse brand in CT, pulls out of it’s contract with the Connecticut Lottery. The lottery begins a search for a new partner to be the third sportsbook in the state.
2022: The state crosses the $1 billion mark for handle in July after just nine months. Connecticut would go on to hit a record $164.2 million in handle for the month of October.
Conversations take place about opening a Connecticut Lottery sportsbook in Total Mortgage Arena, the home of the New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate Bridgeport Islanders, according to the Connecticut Post.
2021: An all-encompassing agreement between the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Mohegan Tribe and the state government finally comes to fruition. Lamont signs new tribal gambling compacts with the tribes, which the state Legislature soon ratifies.
Federal officials review and approve the compacts. This is standard procedure for all tribal gambling agreements. Retail sportsbooks open Sept. 30, and by Oct. 19, all three sportsbook apps are up and running in the Nutmeg State.
2020: Two sports betting packages — HB 5168 and SB 21 — fail after multiple legislative hearings.
HB 5168 would have let the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes and off-track betting operators run sportsbooks. SB 21, meanwhile, was all about the tribes. Along with sports betting, the bill would have allowed online gambling and a Bridgeport casino.
2019: A special legislative session in the fall does not include sports betting.
2018: In March, the Public Safety and Security Committee holds an exploratory hearing on sports betting. Lawyers from the NBA and MLB attended to pitch their list of wants, including the ability to restrict wagers and the right to collect an integrity fee.
Lawmakers push back on the integrity fee, which the NBA lawyer refers to as a “royalty fee.” The leagues argue that the strength of their brand and the need to bolster their monitoring tools necessitate inclusion in the revenue from sports betting. They ask for 1% of all wagers, which could amount to a lot of money.
Foxwoods Resort Casino later submits testimony saying it favors legalization.
2017: Public Act 17-209 moves to regulate sports betting in Connecticut. The act directs the state Department of Consumer Protection to expand its oversight to the new industry to the extent that state and federal law allow.
The DCP subsequently asks for more guidance in establishing the regulatory framework for Connecticut sports betting.
FAQ on Connecticut sports betting
Where can I bet on sports in Connecticut?
State law allows bettors to wager in person and online. If you are 21 or older and located within state lines, you can bet at any of three legal online sportsbooks: FanDuel, DraftKings and the SugarHouse.
You can also place wagers at sportsbooks at the Mohegan Sun Casino (partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook), Foxwoods Resort Casino (partnered with DraftKings) or one of eight current retail locations sponsored by the CT Lottery in partnership with PlaySugarHouse.
Is horse betting legal in Connecticut?
Horse racing and horse betting are legal in Connecticut, though no live tracks operate in the state at the moment.
You can place bets on horse racing at off-track facilities available throughout the state. Bettors can also wager on horse racing online through advance deposit wagering sites like TVG.
Can I play daily fantasy sports in Connecticut?
Daily fantasy sports are legal in Connecticut. However, paid contests at FanDuel are currently not available to people in Connecticut.
The state requires both a 30-minute pop-up to remind users to take breaks and log out, and the use of two-factor authentication. FanDuel is currently unable to meet these requirements on its app, leading to a pause in paid contests stretching back to February 2022.
FanDuel initially indicated the pause would only last until the beginning of the 2022-23 NFL season, but it is still in effect. There are, however, a couple of other sites offering DFS in Connecticut, like DraftKings and Yahoo.
Who oversees sports betting in Connecticut?
The Department of Consumer Protection oversees the state’s current gambling activity, including sports betting. The Connecticut Lottery Corp. oversees the lottery.
Connecticut sports betting resources
- The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website includes details on rules, regulation, business and consumer information and more.
- 2021 CT sports betting law.
- CT gambling regulations for casino gambling, sports betting, fantasy, keno and lottery.