Sports betting in Connecticut launched on Thursday in time for bets to be collected surrounding the Thursday Night Football contest. There are two sportsbooks open in the state at each of the tribal nations.
Mohegan Sun will work with FanDuel, and the Foxwoods partnered with DraftKings Sportsbook. The sportsbook at Foxwoods is currently a temporary property with plans to expand in the coming months. It’s located inside the Ultimate Race Book in the rainmaker casino.
However, if people want to place a quick bet, they can do so at betting kiosks scattered throughout the property. Even though the sportsbook is temporary, Connecticut residents flocked to DraftKings Sportsbook to place retail wagers.
Comments the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, along with the Mohegans, have been proponents of legal sports betting in Connecticut since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was repealed in 2018.
Mobile betting will be coming to the state in the future, but the Tribe is happy to have some sports wagering legal in the state.
Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman, was quoted in a press release following the launch.
He said;
“Today we celebrate a new era for our Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, sports fans, Foxwoods guests, and Connecticut residents. We thank Governor Lamont and his administration, regulators, and the many lawmakers who helped pave the way for legal sports betting and expanded gaming in the state. Their collaboration and hard work have allowed trusted gaming operators like our Tribe and DraftKings to help lead innovation across Connecticut. With NFL season in full force, it’s game on, and we look forward to a successful launch.”
The Future of Sports Betting in Connecticut
Connecticut has the potential to be a significant sport betting state despite its size. The state is centrally located between New York and Boston, which helps its traffic. Additionally, many avid sports fans in the state and the casinos are a huge part of the local economy.
The permanent sportsbook at Foxwoods will feature multiple betting markets, allowing users to bet on professional and collegiate sports. There will be no wagers allowed on in-state colleges, but everything else is fair game.
The permanent sportsbook is in its final stages, and it will have betting kiosks and windows. There will be numerous televisions and seating throughout the facility.
Matt Kalish, the co-founder, and president of DraftKings, was very excited about the launch. He said;
“We’re thrilled to join the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in bringing a holistic and delightful sports betting experience for customers in Connecticut. By leveraging the Tribe’s expertise in developing and operating one of the largest resort casinos in the world, we are excited to bring new offerings for consumers in The Constitution State.”
The one thing Foxwoods has emphasized through marketing and around the sportsbook is responsible gaming. The partnership with DraftKings required this action because the operator is a member of the American Gaming Association.
Foxwoods have been at the front of a Bet Responsibly Service Campaign, which teaches safe sports betting practices and preaches only using legal sportsbooks.