Connecticut Sports Betting – Best CT Betting Apps 2023
Connecticut sports betting is legal and live after online sportsbooks in the state started taking wagers in October 2021. DraftKings, FanDuel, and SugarHouse are all live and offer bets and bonuses to new users in the state.
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Top CT sports betting apps for 2023
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What’s happening in CT sports betting right now
- Dec. 1, 2023 — The Connecticut Lottery is partnering with Fanatics Sportsbook after months spent considering possible operators to replace SugarHouse as the third sports betting app in the state.
- Nov. 8, 2023 — CT sports betting handle rose to $180.9 million in September, up 98% from August to reach the highest monthly handle ever for the state.
- Oct. 25, 2023 — Connecticut sports betting handle hit $91.3 million in August, down about $200,000 from July, but up about $11 million year-over-year.
- Sept. 25, 2023 — The Connecticut Lottery announced it is opening its 11th sportsbook. The new sportsbook will be located in Total Mortgage Arena, home of the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders.
- Aug. 21, 2023 — The state announces that Connecticut sports betting handle rose slightly to $91.5 million in July, up about $100,000 from June. Revenue rose 14.4% month-over-month to $11.1 million.
- Aug. 15, 2023 — The state announces that Connecticut sports betting handle fell to $91.4 million in June, down 16.5% month-over-month and about $4 million year-over-year.
- June 21, 2023 — Connecticut announces that sports betting in the state reached $109.3 million in handle in May, down 13% month-over-month and 5% year-over-year. However, revenue was $15.2 million, up a couple of million from April.
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. |
Top Connecticut sports betting apps
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 it offers, the perks it provides and the user experience it creates. Here is a quick guide to the online sportsbooks available in Connecticut. Note that the Connecticut Lottery is looking for a new partner after SugarHouse (Rush Street) pulled out of an agreement between the two. However, SugarHouse is still available in the state at the moment.
1. 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. Additionally, bettors can 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
2. DraftKings Sportsbook
One of the top online sportsbooks in the US, DraftKings Sportsbook combines a sleek app and top-of-the-line live betting experience. 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 good live-betting options
- Best feature: Betting pools
3. PlaySugarHouse and the CT Lottery
PlaySugarHouse operates as BetRivers Sportsbook 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 rewards program, iRush Rewards. 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 good selection 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
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.
Before claiming sports betting promos in Connecticut, 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. This usually occurs with your first deposit with a new book. The matched funds are not eligible for withdrawal until you meet a playthrough requirement.
- Bonus bets: A bet or bets you receive for meeting certain conditions. For instance, a sportsbook may offer a bonus bet if you create an account at that book. 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 or rewards program awards you points for each wager you make. The app keeps track of the points, and you can redeem them for various perks. 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 a 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 the franchise moved to North Carolina in 1997. That means 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 cannot legally wager on those teams, however, unless UConn is playing in a tournament.
CT sports betting history
2023: RSI, operating as the SugarHouse brand in CT, pulls out of its contract with the Connecticut Lottery. The lottery begins a search for a new partner to be the third sportsbook in the state.
2022: Sports betting in the state crosses the $1 billion mark for handle in July after just nine months. Connecticut goes 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 available 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.
Connecticut sports betting FAQ
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 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 the 11 retail locations that the CT Lottery sponsors 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 contests are legal in Connecticut. However, paid contests at FanDuel are currently not available in the state.
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 does not 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. Other sites, however, still offer DFS in Connecticut, including 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.