CT Online Sports Betting Full Launch Starts Oct. 19 in time for NFL Week 7 Wagers

• Full Launch of CT Online Sports Betting Begins Oct. 19, Ready for NFL’s Week 7 
• Last Week Connecticut’s OSB Soft Launch Went Off Without a Hitch
• CT Retail Launches to be Gradually Phased In

Full Launch of CT Online Sports Betting Begins Oct. 19, Ready for NFL’s Week 7

The challenging journey to implement legal sports gambling for Constitution State bettors is about to reach its end with the full launch of operations on October 19 after almost half a year of enduring the litigious and logistical speedbumps that come with such a tricky trek.

As we’ve previously reported, this all began back in May when Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed the state’s sports betting bill HB 6451 into law, and ever since regulations have been established, licenses have been applied for and granted, and temporary sports books have been put in place.

Now on Tuesday, a full launch of Connecticut’s online sports betting market will proceed as planned giving Nutmeg State punters a chance to put some money down on the NFL’s Week 7 schedule including a Sunday game that might hold some local interest, the New York Jets vs the New England Patriots.

This full launch will happen thanks to the successful soft launch that occurred last week.

Last Week Connecticut’s OSB Soft Launch Went Off Without a Hitch

Starting last Tuesday at noon, the Connecticut Lottery and Rush Street Interactive were permitted to begin a soft launch of their online sports betting operation, giving a lucky 750 players the chance to sign up to place wagers using their PlaySugarHouse app.

It took little marketing to attract 3,000+ interested players for those 750 spots, and those chosen few went on to bet more than $60,000 in two days alone, the average bet about $45 with some winners already having processed their withdrawals.

They placed bets on the NFL and the MLB and all the other major sports available for wagers, and there were even some who gambled money on the outcome of certain Russian table tennis matches and various esports,

Now that the online part of Connecticut’s sports betting market has been tested and cleared, the retail version can begin to be rolled out.

CT Retail Launches to be Gradually Phased In

There are still certain regulatory approvals that have yet to come in keeping the Connecticut Lottery from fully launching the retail part of the state’s sports betting operation, but that should all happen soon, the plan being to gradually phase it in.

Right now, three of those retail venues, all owned by Sportech, are ready for business: Bobby V’s locations in Stamford and Windsor Locks and the Winners location in New Haven, with another seven ready to go at the end of October.

Also, iGaming has launched at the same time in Connecticut, with partnerships between DraftKings Sportsbook and the Mashantucket Pequot tribe and between FanDuel and the Mohegan Indians all working together on that part.

The potential financial windfall is significant according to industry analyzer PlayCT:

Connecticut could evolve into a market that generates more than $1.5 billion in annual sports wagers and more than $100 million in operator revenue.

Great news for any state that could use that kind of extra pocket change.