Connecticut Near Betting, iGaming With Federal Register Publish

Connecticut sports betting and iGaming on Wednesday took another step closer to launching.

The gaming compact between the state and the Mohegan Tribe was published in the Federal Register, allowing the compact to be operational once a launch date has been set.

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The state also has a gaming compact with the Mashantucket Pequots, but no date had been given on the Federal Register website as to when it would be officially published.

After Wednesday’s Federal Register notification, there are still regulatory steps to be taken, including licenses being issued by the Department of Consumer Protection (CDCP), requests to go live and a week-long soft launch, which is common in the U.S. market.

When federal approval was announced last week, Gov. Ned Lamont and tribe officials said they looked forward to launching in October, if not sooner.

Three sports betting operators — FanDuel Sportsbook (Mohegan Sun Uncasville), DraftKings Sportsbook (Mashantucket Pequot) and Rush Street Interactive (Connecticut Lottery Corp.) — will operate in Connecticut. DraftKings Casino and FanDuel Casino will also offer online casino games.

Compact Approval

On Sept. 9, Lamont, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler and Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman James Gessner Jr. announced they had received federal approval for the proposed revisions to the Connecticut gaming compacts.

The approval brings the tribes, along with the Connecticut Lottery Corp. (CLC), one step closer to implementing sports wagering and online gaming under a new law Lamont signed in May.

Late last month, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Regulation Review Committee approved regulations for sports wagering and online gaming as proposed by the Department of Consumer Protection. The state will now continue the licensing process and the review necessary to certify the gaming platforms.

Lamont signed sports betting into law on May 27, allowing the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, along with the Connecticut Lottery, to expand Connecticut gambling to offer online gaming and sports wagering.

Rush Street Third Operator

On Aug. 12, the Connecticut Lottery Corp. announced that Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive would be the state’s third and final sports betting platform, joining DraftKings Sportsbook (Mashantucket Pequot) and FanDuel Sportsbook (Mohegan Sun Uncasville).

Rush Street operates SugarHouse and BetRivers sportsbooks. The company is expected to use SugarHouse Sportsbook in Connecticut, though Rush Street has made no official announcement.

The 10-year agreement includes $170 million in guaranteed minimum revenue share for the CLC from retail and online sports betting. Rush Street will also team with Connecticut-based Sportech to offer sports betting at 10 of the 15 retail sports betting locations authorized statewide.