Connecticut Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting is currently legal in Connecticut after the state was among the first to take up legislation for the framework of legalizing sports betting in 2017. State legislators successfully passed a bill that required the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to take up new regulations if federal laws allowed for sports betting in Connecticut, which it did when the Supreme Court overturned PASPA later that year.

A later 2018 sports bill was put forward and that legislation later morphed into the February 2020 twin sports betting bills that opened the pathway for the online sports deal between the state and the tribal casinos in 2021. The plan passed in May 2021 with the first online and retail locations opening in October of that year.

DFS, Horse Racing, Charitable Gaming, State Lottery (both land-based and online), Casinos and a big and popular poker scene are all available for residents and visitors to the State of Connecticut.

The gambling tax rate in the state of Connecticut is 6.99%.

Large gambling wins in Connecticut over $1200 may be subject to an additional Federal Tax.

Contact your tax attorney for full details if you have a big win.

Connecticut sits firmly in the ‘Goldilocks’ normal zone for many states in terms of its minimum age requirements for legal betting options; a 21 years-of-age requirement to bet in the State’s Casinos, and 18 years-of-age for all other wagering types.

Legal sports betting in Connecticut began in October 2021 after three years of debate over the sports betting legislation. Connecticut’s 2017 law directed its regulators to adopt a range of broad sweeping sports betting regulations, and that legislation was not finalized until early 2021.

In April 2021, Governor Ned Lamont forged an agreement with the state’s tribes in order to make online and land-based sports betting a reality. To date, 15 respondents have been requested to apply for sports betting licenses (pending the final passages of state laws through the system) and would be subject to the following proposed laws;

• Licensing agreements with the tribes would be allowed for 10 years, with a five-year extension option.
• The Connecticut Lottery Corporation is expected to oversee the industry.
• An 18% tax rate for the first five years for any online casinos (if legislated for), followed by a 20% tax rate for at least the next five years.
• A 13.75% tax rate on online and land-based sports betting.
• 15 land-based sports betting bricks-and-mortar locations, with each land-based facility offered at least 1 online sportsbook license.
• Sublicense locations for the state-licensed parimutuel operator and new land-based sports betting venues in both of Bridgeport and Hartford.
• An additional choice of providing online lottery tickets and online keno.

This system put Connecticut in line with the best sports betting sites for NJ in terms of how the regulatory body is set up.

U.S. federal legislation has long exempted Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) from federal jurisdiction on gambling. At a federal level, DFS has been legally assessed to be considered a contest of skill, not a gambling game of chance.

In October 2017, Connecticut Governor Dan Molloy signed off on the legalization of DFS in the state. The act took effect on October 31 2017. 

Meanwhile, all of the major DFS sites are continuing to operate and to hold real money contests in the state of Connecticut.

Connecticut has always been at the forefront of the eSports movement in the United States. It was the first state to introduce an official interscholastic eSports program into their state school system, so it is no surprise that betting on eSports was legalized when online sports betting was passed in 2021.

What are eSports?

If you’re not aware, eSports is the short name for electronic sports. Simply put, it’s video game play at the highest level. eSports are usually played in a team format in leagues and tournaments worldwide, rather than on an individual level. Along with the vast growth of many video game developers, many firms have funded and launched their own competitions for players.

As game streaming platforms have also emerged and the technology has improved immeasurably, it has helped turn these competitions into global events.

High-profile games such as CS:GO, Fortnite, Dota 2, League of Legends, Call of Duty and Rocket League have their own leagues, tournaments and competitions. eSports Tournaments held in huge 50000 plus seater stadiums are now sold out in minutes.

With the enormous boom in popularity of the Professional Gaming tournaments, eSports wagering grows in popularity each and every year. A number of international sportsbooks now offer a range of betting markets across all major eSports tournaments.

Once sports betting is legalized in the state, look for eSports betting at your favorite Connecticut sportsbook.

Connecticut no longer has any live horse racing or live greyhound racing options. Simulcasting of national U.S. and international racing events has replaced live racing in Connecticut. CT off track betting is highly evolved and many options to place wagers on horse and greyhound racing and Jai Alai are available.

Trackside Betting/ Off Track Betting (OTB) in Connecticut

Without any functioning horse or dog racing tracks in the state, Connecticut has a highly evolved Off-Track Betting (OTB) scene. There are dozens of OTB’s widespread throughout the state and live simulcast betting is available on all U.S. and international races at all Connecticut casinos.

Online Horse Racing

Online racebooks are quickly becoming the number one option of choice for horse betting in Connecticut, and most of the websites are simple to access and easy-to-use. All of the available sites feature races at top tracks across the U.S. and internationally.

The latest horse betting odds are always posted and all of the standard horse bet types are accepted. You will also be able to redeem special horse bet rebates and bonuses for more wagering opportunities.

Connecticut residents over the age of 18, who can’t physically get to one of the state’s many OTB’s or are simply too busy, can simply conveniently place their wagers for all the big races like the Kentucky Derby or the Triple Crown on their PC or mobile device, without having to leave the comfort of their own home.

Visit our Connecticut Gambling page for More information on the state’s online casino and other gambling Laws