CT Sports Betting Launches with Gov. Lamont Making Ceremonial First Bets

• Last Week, CT Launched its Long-Awaited Retail Sports Betting Market 
• Gov. Ned Lamont Makes Ceremonial First Bets at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun
• CT Online Sports Betting Likely Delayed “A Couple Days” Says DCP Spokesperson

Last Week, CT Launched its Long-Awaited Retail Sports Betting Market

As of late last week, legal sports betting in Connecticut is now up and running with both the Mohegan Sun and the Foxwoods Resort Casino opening temporary sportsbooks last Thursday so that in-person (aka retail) gambling can begin.

This comes weeks after the state Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) approved licenses for sports betting in the Constitution State, that happening despite initially getting limited support from certain state leaders including Governor Ned Lamont.

Lamont admitted as much to the media, saying:

It wasn’t one of my big priorities to tell you the truth. But again, the time was right, the world was going virtual, I want the casinos here to thrive and it means real revenues for the state, so we put it on the front burner.

Now Gov. Lamont is fully on board, even traveling last week to both casinos in his state to put some cash down on a few of his favorites.

Gov. Ned Lamont Makes Ceremonial First Bets at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun

To lead the way into Connecticut’s potentially lucrative new sports betting market, Gov. Lamont made his state’s first legal sports wager at Mohegan Sun (operated by the Mohegan Tribe) by placing a $50 bet for the Connecticut Sun basketball team to beat the Chicago Sky.

Next, the governor made two $20 bets at Foxwoods Resort Casino (operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe), picking the Yankees to beat the Toronto Blue Jays that Thursday and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win over the New England Patriots during their big Week 4 Sunday Night Football matchup.

For the record, Gov. Lamont won both his bets, with the Yankees taking care of the Blue Jays, 6-2, and the Buccaneers narrowly edging out the Patriots, 19-17, “safe bets” whose odds did not play into the governor’s gambling decisions.

“I bet my heart, I don’t know what the odds are.”

Soon, Connecticut bettors will also be able to take advantage of the online options for placing sports bets, but most likely not by the expected Oct. 7 deadline.

CT Online Sports Betting Likely Delayed “A Couple Days” Says DCP Spokesperson

Original plans had online sports betting beginning with a soft-launch on Oct. 7, but, according to DCP spokesperson Kaitlyn Krasselt, that start date may no longer be valid.

That deadline is now likely to be pushed back “a couple days,” according to Krasselt, and that’s thanks to multiple delays to last-minute approvals for online gaming.

“We’re still working really hard to get things up and running statewide and online as quick as possible. We want to get it right.”

Regardless of the adjusted timetable, Connecticut punters can rest assured that both retail and online sports betting in their state are now in play, lucrative cash cows that should soon financially benefit both state and tribal interests.

Keep checking back for the latest news and updates on Connecticut’s legal sports betting journey.