Final CT Tribal Gaming Compact Published, Oct 7 Sports Betting Launch on Track

• CT’s Gaming Compact with Mashantucket Pequot Tribe Now Published in Fed. Register
• CT Retail Sports Betting Can Begin in a Week, Online Wagers Expected to Start Oct. 7
• Connecticut Joins Dozens of States in Lucrative NFL Gambling Market

CT’s Gaming Compact with Mashantucket Pequot Tribe Now Published in Federal Register

On Monday, the amended compact between Connecticut and the Mashantucket Pequot Indians is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register, the final step before the state in partnership with its two native tribes can launch their legal sports betting operation.

That makes it the second tribal compact published in the Federal Register, with the amended compact between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians being published earlier this month on September 15.

No clear explanation for the nearly two-week delay in the second tribal compact being published has been reported.

These compacts lay out the details of how the state’s legal sports gambling operation will be run, as the commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Michelle Seagull told the media earlier in the process:

The purpose of this regulation is to create a licensing structure and implement provisions for responsible gaming and data privacy protections in order to ensure consumer safety and gaming integrity for new gaming markets in our state.

The compacts also make clear certain fiscal details, like setting the tax rate on retail sports betting at 13.5% and on online wagers at 18%, which could amount to a projected $450 Million in annual sportsbook revenue.

CT Retail Sports Betting Can Begin in a Week, Online Wagers Expected to Start Oct. 7

The publication of these amended tribal compacts in the Federal Register means that sports betting in Connecticut can officially launch on time and, according to the published compact, the online portion of Connecticut’s legal sports betting operation is scheduled to begin October 7.

Even better news, according to a spokesman for Governor Ned Lamont, the retail portion that takes place on tribal land can get started about a week after that tribe’s compact is published, so expect in-person bets to begin by early next week.

This means that Mohegan Sun bettors could start placing in-person sports wagers soon at the FanDuel Sportsbook-branded kiosks that have already been installed in that casino, while at Foxwoods, retail bets through their DraftKings Sportsbook could now get started around Oct. 4.

Connecticut Joins Dozens of States in Lucrative NFL Gambling Market

Currently, 26 other US states have already launched some form of either retail and/or online legal sports betting operation and they are apparently taking full advantage of the 2021 NFL regular season, posting a 126% Increase in online betting transactions as we reported earlier.

The NFL and its thirty-two football franchises reportedly expect to generate about $270 million in revenue this year from their sports-betting and gambling deals, so Connecticut will begin to get a piece of that major pie starting early next month.

Gov. Ned Lamont is convinced his state is making the right move here.

In working collaboratively with the Mohegan Tribe, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, Connecticut has crafted nation-leading legislation, which will position our state as a leader in this space and will provide an elevated user experience for eligible residents.

Chances are legal sports betting in Connecticut will still face a few minor snags before launch day, but regardless, it looks like that date will now happen in early October, so check back here for updates and details.