Possibility of Connecticut Legal Sports Betting Gaining Steam
It is becoming a bit of a theme that legislative battles in potential legal sports betting states have been increasingly leaning toward pro-gambling sides lately. The latest to share a sense of some optimism is Connecticut, a state that has been battling for years with no success to launch a platform of their own.
Three years of on-again, off-again negotiations in Connecticut took a positive step last week with a new Bill being drafted that would see legal sports betting a reality sometime in 2021. The latest iteration of a potential legal sports betting bill has been backed by seventeen Connecticut lawmakers, the state’s Public Safety & Security Committee which voted 24-1 on Thursday to bring SB 146 up for debate and even Gov. Ned Lamont who has seen the writing on the sports betting wall for a while.
Details of Bill SB 146
SB 146 is only two pages long - a bit light on specifics. Under the bill, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations would operate online sports betting and retail betting on tribal land. The tribes would also gain rights to provide an online casino which would be able to be accessed throughout the state.
The idea is: “To authorize the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut to conduct sports wagering on Indian lands, online sports wagering and online casino gaming, subject to new or amended agreements with the tribes,” stated in the bill.
The Connecticut Lottery would gain access to online sales, which would include lottery draw game tickets and keno games, pending an agreement with both tribes.
Why the Sudden Push?
Connecticut doesn't have to look very far to see what legal sports betting can do for state. Nearby New Jersey generated over $6 billion in bets last year. $7.6 million in taxes was paid to the state in December alone. Rhode Island and New Hampshire are each running highly successful platforms and New York looks as though they may finally consider an online betting platform. The time may be now for Connecticut lawmakers to act.
Gov. Ned Lamont went on record recently in his State of the State address, saying: “Sports betting, internet gaming and legalized marijuana are happening all around us. Let’s not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or even worse, underground markets.” Lamont is cognisant of the state losing out on revenue for something that is already going on in his state despite the lack of a legal platform.
He and other government officials are also staring at some big holes in the state budget. A legal sports betting platform may be able to at least mitigate some of the state's COVID-forced shortfalls.
The Potential Stumbling Blocks
One of the potential hang-ups has had to do with the state’s compact with the tribes. Any changes have to be negotiated between the governor and tribal leaders for any legislation to pass.
The tribe leadership has given no indication that they are willing to give up any control of legal sports betting in the state. That means the platform will be run through them - period. Lawmakers so far haven't seemed to have a problem with that.
“In exchange for their exclusivity, they provide 250 plus million dollars a year [in taxes] to the state’s revenue picture,” Republican Senator Paul Formica, the deputy minority leader explained.
Already, one of the two National DFS giants signed on to run betting for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation – the owner of Foxwoods Resort Casino and Kambi already has a deal in place with Mohegan in anticipation of Connecticut going live.
The Good News
All parties involved seem to be supportive of a move toward legal sports betting in Connecticut - lawmakers, the Governor and the tribes.
"It feels like everyone wants to get this done. I can genuinely say that with certainty,” said Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which runs Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard.
In Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont's State of the State address he said he: “looks forward to working with our tribal partners on a path forward to modernize gaming in our state, “.
It seems to just be a matter of time before the state of Connecticut is up-and-running with their own legal sports betting scene. There is a lot to be gained for everybody involved. You can now officially add Connecticut to the race to become America’s 22nd state to welcome legal sports betting to their jurisdiction.
