Politics & Government
CT Sports Betting And Online Gambling Agreement: What To Know
Gov. Ned Lamont and representatives from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes recently agreed to expand gambling in Connecticut.
CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont and representatives from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes recently signed an agreement on gambling in Connecticut.
The agreement is one of the first important steps to legalized sports betting and online gambling in Connecticut. The agreement still has a ways to go before the expansion happens.
How will the state tax the new offerings?
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There would be a 20 percent tax rate on new online gaming and a 13.75 percent tax on sports betting. The agreement is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the state, Lamont said.
The agreement would allow the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to run many of its popular physical cames online.
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What about betting on college sports?
The agreement hasn’t said anything about college sports betting. Some states allow no bettering on college sports, some only ban it for teams within the state and others don’t allow it if the team is playing a home game, said Rob Simmelkjaer, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation during a news conference.
What are the next steps?
The state legislature would have to pass a bill authorizing the agreement. The agreement also has to be approved by the federal Department of the Interior.
State regulations would also have to be put into place, but Lamont’s administration is hoping that legislation will codify the majority of regulations, said Chief of Staff Paul Mounds.
When will expanded legalized gambling become a reality in Connecticut?
Lamont’s administration is aiming for expanded gambling to happen by the start of football season in the fall, said Chief of Staff Paul Mounds. That is subject to the legislature passing a bill expediently and the federal Department of the Interior approving the agreement.
How about brick-and-mortar betting?
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation has plans for up to 15 sports betting locations throughout the state with a focus on Bridgeport and Hartford, Simmelkjaer said.
Who would operate online sports betting platforms?
The Connecticut Lottery and two tribes would each have rights to set up their own platforms.
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