Sportsbook Resources
Connecticut Sports Betting
Connecticut has more than its fair share of country clubs – so it’s somewhat fitting that the Nutmeg State has limited sports betting license access to just a few members.
Being one of the most restrictive states in the country might not endear Connecticut to sportsbooks on the outside, but for FanDuel, DraftKings and SugarHouse, the decision to keep things right and tight is fine by them. And sports bettors don’t seem to mind the lack of options, with Connecticut routinely reaching nine figures in monthly handle.
If you’re a Connecticut-based sports bettor, there are two ways to look at the state’s decision to severely limit sportsbook operator access.
On one hand, it makes deciding on a sportsbook a much easier process; if you don’t like the first one you try, you have two other options to consider, and that’s it. On the flip side, not only are you out of luck if you pass on any of those three options, but you also miss out on all of the welcome offers and bonuses seen in more wide-open states.
Here’s a look at our top-rated online sportsbooks in Connecticut.
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook betting site.
21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly
Up to $1,250 On Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits®
Pros
- Largest retail sportsbook in America.
- Elite rewards program.
Cons
- Live betting data can be slow to load.
- Smaller secondary market.
Caesars Review
Caesars is proving to be one of the most aggressively expanding brands in sports betting. Unfortunately, like all major U.S. sportsbooks, they are quick to limit you if you go on a tear and their odds boost promos offer low maximum bet limits.
$1,000 back in Bonus Bets
Pros
- Some of the best live-betting odds.
- Casino Operator of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
Cons
- Quick to lower your limits when you're on a heater.
- Random account reviews can lock your money.
BetMGM Review
BetMGM is one of the top-rated sportsbooks in the U.S. offering some of the best live betting odds in the industry. They’re also the largest iGaming operator across the U.S.
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Pros
- Easy transition of funds from DFS to sportsbook.
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- Odds boosts and promos have low max bet limits.
- Same game parlays offer no edge.
FanDuel Review
FanDuel reigns supreme right now as the No. 1 betting site in America. And it has largely earned that spot on the strength of superior brand recognition, an easy-to-use product, an overwhelming number of markets for North America’s most popular sports, and representation in every state in which it is permitted to offer legal sports betting.
Bet $5, Get $200
Pros
- Lots of promos and odds boosts.
- Wide range of sports and bet types.
Cons
- Indirect and unhelpful customer service.
- Some promotion ads can be misleading.
DraftKings Review
DraftKings had a solid reputation as the leading DFS provider in the country, so the shift to legal sports betting felt natural. They offer one of the most voluminous collections of ongoing promos and odds boosts in the industry as they cater to the beginner crowd. However, their reputation has dwindled as outspoken CEO Jason Robins leads the charge of the anti-profitable bettor mentality that runs rampant amongst sportsbooks that are quick to limit winning players.
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Free Bets
Pros
- Global sportsbook.
- Quality live betting options.
Cons
- Issues with location detection.
- Will limit bettors on a hot streak.
bet365 Review
bet365 is one of the largest and most popular sportsbooks globally. With a well-received mobile app, popular same-game parlays, and a wide variety of sports leagues to bet on it’s no wonder 80 million sports bettors worldwide continue to use bet365.
5 Bonus Bets up to $500
Pros
- 100% independent.
- In-house odds.
Cons
- Expiration on certain promos.
- Limits users on a heater.
PointsBet Review
Online since: 2015
PointsBet’s innovative nature shows that they don’t want to just be another book you place typical bets. Unfortunately, they are quick to limit bettors on a hot streak and limit the number of promos you’re able to take advantage of, making it necessary for you to shop at other books regularly.
$1,000 New Player Bonus
Pros
- Interactive bets with their known personalities.
- Very flexible parlay options.
Cons
- Below-average odds.
- Will quickly limit bettors on a hot streak.
Barstool Sportsbook Review
With a large variety of ongoing promos and contests featuring Barstool personalities, Barstool Sportsbook is a solid option available for casual bettors.
Risk-free Bet up to $250
Pros
- Massive selection of markets.
- Easy-to-use interface.
Cons
- Drab design.
- Quick auto-sign-outs.
Betway Review
While this book won’t wow you with its design, you won’t find many apps easier to navigate – or with the sheer volume of sports markets Betway offers. And although you'll find more generous signup offers elsewhere, Betway remains a strong global sports betting brand that deserves to be mentioned among the second-tier sportsbook options in the U.S.
Connecticut Promos and Bonuses
Just about everyone loves free stuff, and residents of Connecticut are certainly no different. Connecticut-based sportsbooks are clamoring to add new customers – and that’s great news for those of you looking to join the fray. Here are the top bonuses and signup offers available in Connecticut:
FanDuel: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
FanDuel is rolling out a lucrative welcome bonus for new users to take advantage of.
Upon registering, new users will receive $150 in bonus bets regardless of whether their bet wins or loses when they deposit and wager $5 on any live sporting market. All users will receive their bonus bets within 72 hours after placing the initial wager.
It is important to note that only bets placed on the FanDuel app are eligible for this promotion. Mobile browser and desktop users will be prompted to download the app to claim the offer when visiting the FanDuel website.
DraftKings: 20% Deposit Match up to $1,000
At DraftKings Connecticut, you will receive a $50 free bet with a minimum deposit of $5. If you don’t have the bankroll to make a more extensive first deposit, this is a humble offer. Still, this is far from generous, considering that DK is a multi-billion dollar industry giant.
The more significant offer DraftKings features is a 20% first deposit match up to $1,000. In this case, you must deposit $5,000 to be eligible to receive the maximum possible bonus amount of $1,000. This is not a reasonable offer for the casual bettor.
SugarHouse: Deposit Match up to $250
SugarHouse Connecticut offers a deposit match up to $250, which is nice as it gives you free money to play with instead of risk-free bets that only award you if your first bet is graded a loser.
The deposit match at SugarHouse CT isn’t automatically given to you either. You have to opt in to activate it. To do that, go to the Cashier / Deposit menu and make your first deposit. Enter the code SPORTS within the promo field. Your bonus funds will be applied to your account within 48 hours, and you’ll receive an email once the funds are ready to be activated.
(Note: Terms and conditions apply to all offers and bonuses.)
Connecticut Sports Betting Quick Facts
| 🚀 Launch Date | Sept. 30, 2021 |
| 💰 # of Betting Sites | Three |
| 📱 Online Sports Betting | ✅ Yes |
| 🎰 Retail Sports Betting | ✅ Yes |
| 🖥️ Online Casino | ✅ Yes |
| 🃏 Retail Casino | ✅ Yes |
| 🏈 College Sports Betting | ✅ Yes (but not on in-state teams) |
| 🌎 2022 Population (est.) | 3.6 million |
| 💵 2021 Betting Handle | $336.4 million |
| 💸 Tax Rate | 18% online/13.75% retail |
Connecticut Betting Apps
FanDuel Sportsbook
There’s very little separating the top two sportsbooks on this list. So why does FanDuel get the edge? It’s a few little things: We favor FD’s customer service quality ahead of DraftKings, and they have a better selection of market-specific offers and promotions that add a nice touch.
Check out our FanDuel sportsbook review.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Make no mistake: DK is every bit as formidable as its chief sports betting and DFS rival. DraftKings provides regular boosts to first-time bettors and has one of the widest selections of sports markets in North America. A few small dings might have DraftKings a step behind FanDuel, but the margin is razor-thin.
Check out our DraftKings sportsbook review.
SugarHouse Sportsbook
Sugarhouse, like its sister app BetRivers, has a couple of things working in its favor. Its deposit bonus is delivered as free money rather than a risk-free bet, and it offers a wider-than-average range of alternate lines and props. Unfortunately, the home page design is subpar and the rest of the product is meh.
Check out our SugarHouse sportsbook review.
Also see our list of all betting sites in Connecticut.
How to Bet in Connecticut
Choose your sportsbook
Consult our top list above for the best sports betting options available to you in Connecticut. Our interactive list allows you to sort sportsbooks based on a number of criteria, including banking options, bonuses and quality of customer service.
If you’re looking for more information before making your choice, be sure to check out our detailed, unbiased reviews for each of the top sportsbooks in Connecticut. This is especially important if you want to understand how each book’s bonus offers work.
Register online
Registration requirements vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.
Deposit and claim your bonus
Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it’s time to make your initial deposit and claim that sweet bonus. The majority of first-time offers for Connecticut residents come in one of two forms:
- Risk-free bets: This offer guarantees you a refund on your first wager if it is graded as a loss. The sportsbook will refund your initial bet amount (up to a specific limit) either as cash or as site credit.
- Deposit match: This offer sees the sportsbook match your initial deposit dollar-for-dollar, though there are two caveats. The deposit match will come with a maximum limit, and in the majority of cases you will be required to “play through” your initial deposit by a certain multiple in order to earn the bonus.
Select and finalize your bet
Congratulations! You’re ready to place a wager. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app interface before diving in. Most mobile operators make it easy for new sports bettors to navigate, but it’s still a good idea to know where everything is.
From there, you can place any type of wager you like; the most popular bet types are the moneyline, spread or total. You can also dive into team or player props, or even kick things off with a futures bet.
Once you have the desired wager(s) in your betting card, take one last look to ensure you’ve made the selections you want. If everything is good, simply click the “Bet” button – and you’re off!
Connecticut Legal Sports Betting History
With two tribes responsible for running Connecticut’s gaming industry for more than a quarter-century, there wasn’t much room for outsiders as the state sought to legalize sports betting.
Both the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes had done an exemplary job of managing gaming within the state, so it made sense to have them at the center of the sports betting scene. But the state lottery wanted a part of the action, as well – and in the end, all three entities negotiated a slice of the Connecticut sports wagering pie.
Here’s a look at Connecticut’s sports betting history:
2020: Partnerships but no signed bill
After sports betting was left out of the state’s fall legislative session the year prior, 2020 kicked off with plenty of tension between the Connecticut government and the two steadfast tribes. At stake: Whether the state lottery would be permitted to offer sports betting, a concession neither tribe was willing to make at this point in the process.
A pair of sports betting bills (H 5168 and S 21) were introduced, but neither reached the floor. Both sides continued to quibble over who would have jurisdiction over the sports betting industry in the state, and both threatened litigation if the other side didn’t yield to their request.
Meanwhile, Mashantucket Pequot reached a partnership deal with DraftKings through its Foxwood Casino facility to prepare for the possibility of sports betting being legalized at some point in the future.
2021: Tribes green-light CT sports betting
The start of 2021 brought hope for everyone involved in what had become a grueling journey to regulated sports wagering. Senator Cathy Osten, who had tried repeatedly to push through a bill that would appease all parties, introduced legislation early in the year that would see the two tribes oversee statewide mobile wagering and iGaming.
In the spring, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes agreed to allow the state to run sports betting at more than a dozen OTB locations. That was the final step toward a long-awaited Connecticut sports wagering bill, signed into law in May by Governor Ned Lamont.
From there, everything fell into place rather quickly. Mohegan partnered with DraftKings’ chief rival, FanDuel, to operate via its Mohegan Sun casino. And the Connecticut lottery narrowed its list of roughly a dozen suitors down to four before eventually settling on SugarHouse, a Rush Street Interactive property.
Retail sports betting began at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun on Sept. 30, with online wagering going through a one-week soft launch before going completely live on Oct. 19.
2022: FanDuel DFS paused
There was little sports betting news to report from Connecticut early in 2022, though DFS players were no doubt crestfallen to learn that FanDuel would be halting all contests until the start of the 2022 NFL season. The company explained that it needed to make changes to its platform to adhere with new state regulations.
Responsible Gaming in Connecticut
Like most states, Connecticut’s state gaming authority has put safeguards in place to ensure that bettors have a way out of any potential trouble spots.
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming is dedicated to reducing gambling related harm and helping those who may be negatively impacted by gambling. Players can also set deposit and bet limits of their choosing through the mobile apps.
Visit the Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming site.
Sports Leagues to Bet On
It will come as no surprise to see a rather extensive list of major professional and amateur sports available to Connecticut bettors – a list that includes (but is not limited to):
- NFL
- NCAA Football
- NBA
- NCAA Basketball
- MLB
- NHL
- Golf
- Auto Racing
- Tennis
- Soccer
- MMA
That doesn’t leave much off the table, but there are three major markets in which wagering in Connecticut is prohibited:
- Politics
- College sports involving Connecticut-based teams
- Entertainment (including major awards ceremonies)
Connecticut Retail Sportsbooks
There might only be three main sportsbook operators in the Nutmeg State, but they’ve covered a lot of ground when it comes to Connecticut’s brick-and-mortar casinos.
Actually, we need to clarify things. DraftKings and FanDuel are set at one retail location apiece, while SugarHouse operates a whopping 10 sportsbooks, largely spread across the Winners casino network. And the best part for bettors: Each casino is located in a different town or city, giving millions of Connecticut natives easy access to betting.
Here’s a list of the in-person sportsbooks available to those in Connecticut:
Bobby V’s Stamford (SugarHouse, 268 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT, 06901)
Bobby V's Windsor Locks (SugarHouse, 11 Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks, CT, 06096)
Foxwoods Casino (DraftKings Sportsbook, 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Ledyard, CT, 06338)
Mohegan Sun (FanDuel Sportsbook, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT, 06382)
Winners Hartford (SugarHouse, 121 Brainard Road, Hartford, CT, 06114)
Winners Manchester (SugarHouse, 103 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT, 06042)
Winners Milford (SugarHouse, 89 Roses Mill Road, Milford, CT, 06460)
Winners New Britain (SugarHouse, 160 East Main Street, New Britain, CT, 06051)
Winners Norwalk (SugarHouse, 24 Burnell Blvd, Norwalk, CT, 06850)
Winners Sports Haven (SugarHouse, 600 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT, 06511)
Winners Torrington (SugarHouse, 141 Water Street, Torrington, CT, 06790)
Winners Waterbury (SugarHouse, 155 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury, CT, 06710)
Connecticut Sports Betting Tax & Handle
Connecticut sports betting is in its infancy compared with the first wave of states to approve legislation – but it’s fair to say that the state has exceeded expectations.
Despite ranking 29th in population among U.S. states and having no professional sports teams within its borders, Connecticut has routinely surpassed the $100-million handle plateau every month since opening with $54.6 million in its October 2021 opener.
Here’s a look at Connecticut’s monthly sports betting handle beginning in 2021.
2021
| Month | Handle |
| October | $54.6 million |
| November | $131.7 million |
| December | $150.1 million |
| Total | $336.4 million |
2022
| Month | Handle |
| January | $158 million |
| February | $115.6 million |
| March | $140.7 million |
| April | $116.4 million |
| May | $115.2 million |
| June | $95.4 million |
| July | $78.3 million |
| August | $80 million |
| September | $130.5 million |
| October | $164.2 million |
| Total | $1.2 million |
As with the majority of states, Connecticut’s high-water mark came in January, with a tally of $158 million to kick off 2022. As of August, Connecticut has generated more than $889 million in handle for the year with an average hold of 7.5 percent.
Operators pay a 13.75 percent tax rate on gross gaming revenue.
Connecticut Sports Betting FAQ
Can I legally wager on sports in the state of Connecticut?
Yes! Retail sports wagering formally began in Connecticut on Sept. 30, 2021. Full online betting started on Oct. 19, seven days after kicking things off with a soft launch.
Am I permitted to bet in Connecticut even if I don’t live there?
You can create an account, deposit, make bets and withdraw using any regulated mobile sports betting app in Connecticut, as long as you are within state borders. Be sure to complete all of your transactions before you leave, however; once you’re outside the state, you will no longer be able to access your account(s).
Can I use online sportsbooks that aren’t partners of the sports venue I’m in?
You certainly can! Any regulated mobile sports betting app should work in whatever Connecticut-based sports venue you’re in at that time.
Which Connecticut sportsbook should I use?
Check out our list of the top-rated Connecticut sportsbooks above!
Can I bet on esports in Connecticut?
Yes! Connecticut’s sports betting bill included esports, making it legal for residents and visitors to bet on League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and other wildly popular esports games.
How big is the Connecticut sports betting market?
Connecticut comes in just below the average population per state, ranking 29th at 3.55 million people (2022 estimate). It’s one of just a handful of states to actually see a decrease in population since the 2010 census (-0.91 percent).
Who is responsible for managing problem gambling in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) handles everything relating to problem gambling within the state. The CCPG implements programs focusing on advocacy, education and awareness while also offering a toll-free help line.
Will there be more online sportsbook operators in Connecticut in the future?
Likely not. Connecticut approved just three sports betting operators from the outset of the licensing process, and that probably isn’t going to change.