Online Gambling Bill Becomes Law in Connecticut

Ned Lamont, Connecticut’s Governor, has signed a bill into law legalizing online sports betting, fantasy sports, and other forms of iGaming.

House Bill 6451 formalizes agreements reached by Lamont with the state’s Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes in March. The agreements allow the tribes to provide sports betting services both online and at land-based sportsbooks at their casinos. Furthermore, the tribes are now able to provide iGaming and fantasy sports contests. Each tribe is allowed to operate one skin for online sports betting and one for iGaming.

The new laws also give the state lottery permission to operate a skin for sports betting outside of tribal lands and retail betting at fifteen locations, as long as they are at least 25 miles from tribal reservations.

Lamont and the tribes now need approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the US Department of Interior to change the state’s compact with the tribes. Only then can legal online gambling begin in Connecticut.

By signing this bill into law, Connecticut is now on the cusp of providing a modern, technologically advanced gaming experience that will be competitive with our neighboring states and positions us for success into the future. Today, we celebrate the result of months of hard work and dedication toward an agreement that is best for the residents of Connecticut and the respective tribal members. I am confident that the federal government will see fit to approve these amendments to our compact, and in the coming months we can launch a modernized, 21st century gaming experience in Connecticut.

Ned LamontGovernor of Connecticut

The bill was also welcomed by Mohegan tribal council chairman James Gessner Jr. He described it as a “major accomplishment” the advantages of which will be felt across the state, both by residents and tribal members.

Mashantucket Pequot tribal chairman Rodney Butler added, “This is an historic moment in which our nation celebrates with Governor Lamont and the State of Connecticut. Gaming is more than a business to our tribe, it is the way we fund our government, pay for our children’s education, care for our elders, and provide healthcare to our members.”