Online Sports Betting in Connecticut
Published: | Updated:Known as “The Constitution State,” Connecticut was formed in 1788 as the fifth of the United States. With over two hundred years (two centuries!) of US history, CT remains one of the more popular states to visit in the Northeastern United States. Once home to famous authors Mark Twain and Harriett Beecher Stowe, Connecticut has a long and storied literary history. It’s home to the oldest newspaper in the United States and the location of the first American dictionary. The name “Connecticut” actually has roots in Native Americans – they had a word for the region called “Quinetucket.”
From a sporting perspective, it’s home to some of the United States’ most historically dominant collegiate programs. CT is also the birthplace of ESPN.
Connecticut is one of the original thirteen colonies, as well as home to Yale (a prestigious university attended by multiple US presidents).
Sports Betting in Connecticut
Sports betting is legal and live in Connecticut, and has been since the fall of 2021. Three sportsbook apps are legal and active. Those three are FanDuel, DraftKings, and SugarHouse. SugarHouse is the only one partnered with the Connecticut lottery.
From a purely betting perspective, you can wager on all major American sports leagues, as well as international contests. Like many other US states, you can place wagers on college sports, but you cannot bet on teams based in Connecticut. With an exception when they’re participating in a major tournament, like March Madness, for college basketball.
As is the law, bettors must be 21+ to place a wager, regardless of whether it is online or at a retail location within the state.
Sports Betting Apps in Connecticut
Each sportsbook in Connecticut (and, truthfully, in every state) offers different pros and cons regarding usage. The breadth of the markets offered, the perks or promotions provided, or the overall user experience must be considered for each user. If you prefer a clean user experience and interface over promotions and bonus wagers, you might have a different app you favor versus a friend of yours. Everyone is different, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
SugarHouse is the most prominent in-state betting option because of its partnership with the Connecticut Lottery. Operating in most other states as BetRivers, SugarHouse offers top-of-the-line new-player sign-up bonuses and memberships as part of its loyalty rewards program. That program, known as iRush, allows bettors to acquire reward points merely by placing bets. They can later redeem those points for bonus wagers.
The app itself is intuitive and easy to use for beginners, but reports have emerged regarding substandard customer service and longer-than-average wait times for payouts.
DraftKings needs no introduction, as they are one of the top two sportsbook apps available in the United States. With a sleek and intuitive user interface, DraftKings offers top-of-the-line betting options with consistently excellent odds, as well as pools to create private contests. Have you ever wanted to prove to your family and friends that you’re a better bettor? DraftKings is the spot for you.
FanDuel is the other market leader in the US. They offer another elite user experience, along with many bonuses. FanDuel is an excellent spot for finding odds boosts and promos on any given day, and bettors can also place same-game parlays (SGPs) that include multiple player props for the same event. That feature is relatively new and not available at various other sportsbooks.
Some Facts about Connecticut Sports Betting
- Two tribes that operate casinos in Connecticut have reached deals with the state to prove two of the three online sportsbook platforms.
- The Mohegan Tribe is partnered with FanDuel, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is partnered with DraftKings.
- The third sports betting skin, which was eventually awarded to PlaySugarHouse, a RushStreet property.
- Lobbyists from both American sports leagues, the NBA and the MLB, testified in support of sports betting in CT before the legislation passed.
- Each sports betting license is suitable for a decade before any renewal process.
- In just nine months, Connecticut reached $ 1 billion (with a B) in the handle.
Popular Sports in Connecticut
Connecticut is a state where sports play a significant role in the lives of its residents. The state is home to many sports enthusiasts, and with fandom of professional leagues to access amateur sports, there’s quite a bit to choose from. We’ll be highlighting four of the most popular sports in Connecticut.
Basketball
Connecticut has a rich basketball history, with several high school and collegiate teams ranking among the top in the country each year. While we’ll talk more about collegiate success later, the state has a strong history of high school basketball culture. Many high schools in the state have produced top-level talent (Andre Drummond, Tremont Waters, Maya Moore). These players helped their respective schools win multiple state championships.
Baseball
Culturally significant in Connecticut, the state has an excellent track record with baseball. Connecticuters have a strong tradition of supporting their minor league and amateur baseball teams. The Hartford Yard Goats, who are a little league team, is a fan favorite for their modern amenities and family-friendly atmosphere. Several MLB stars grew up and attended high schools in Connecticut, including George Springer (Avon), Matt Harvey (Groton), and Rajai Davis (New London).
American Football
Football is overwhelmingly the most popular sport in Connecticut. Several NFL stars plied their trade in high schools across the state, including Dwight Freeney (Bloomfield), Silas Redd (Stamford), and Jordan Reed (New London). For those who prefer playing to watching, Connecticut also has a thriving community of amateur leagues.
Ice Hockey
Dating back to the 1920s, Connecticut has proved capable of producing talented ice hockey stars. CT is home to two minor league affiliate programs. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an AHL team founded in 2001 as the affiliate of the NHL‘s New York Islanders. The Hartford Wolfpack is an AHL team based in 1997 as an affiliate of the New York Rangers. Connecticut has produced many NHL stars, including Jonathan Quick (Milford), Ron Hextall (born in Canada but raised in Hamden), and Max Pacioretty (New Canaan).
Popular Sports Teams in Connecticut
While Connecticut is technically part of New England (and is one of the six states comprising that geographical area), the Southwest Portion is close to New York City. As a result, fandom and sporting allegiances are split between historical rivals in New York and Boston.
Though none of the four major American sports leagues have teams in Connecticut, fans have options between nearby New York and Boston markets.
For fans of Boston teams, you’d root for:
- The New England Patriots (NFL)
- The Boston Red Sox (MLB)
- The Boston Celtics (NBA)
- The Boston Bruins (NHL)
For fans of New York teams, you’d root for:
- The New York Giants (NFL)
- The New York Jets (NFL)
- The New York Yankees (MLB)
- The New York Knicks (NBA)
- The New York Rangers (NHL)
- The New York Islanders (NHL)
College Sports in Connecticut
From a collegiate perspective, the University of Connecticut Huskies are the dominant collegiate program in the state. Their men’s and women’s basketball programs have been the most consistently compelling and thriving since 2000. The women’s team has won the NCAA National Championship 10 times since 2000, and the men’s program has won five times since 1999.
As mentioned above, bettors can place wagers on those teams (in-state) exclusively during March Madness and not during the regular season.
Popular Athletes in Connecticut
Connecticut is home to many famous and popular athletes. CT has a storied history of producing top-tier athletic marvels across a pretty broad collection of sports. Impossible to list them all, but we’ll name a few of the past few decades who’ve left an indelible mark on sports history.
- Bruce (now Caitlyn) Jenner: Made the 1972 Olympic team as a decathlete only a year after taking up the sport. Set a world record in 1975 and promptly shattered it by winning the gold medal at the 1976 Olympics.
- Steve Young: One of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Young threw for over 30,000 passing yards while rushing for 4,000+ yards on the ground. Young is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, retiring as a 3x Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, 2x NFL MVP, and 7x Pro Bowler.
- Calvin Murphy: A basketball star, Murphy is an NBA Hall of Famer with the highest single-season free throw shooting percentage (95.8%). He is among the highest-scoring collegiate basketball players ever, recording 33.1ppg for his career between 1967 and 1970 at Niagara. He did that despite being only 5’9″ and 165 lbs.
- Kristine Lilly: One of the world’s greatest female midfielders of all time. Lilly was part of the 1999 US World Cup team. She scored the third most goals in US women’s national team history, behind only the legendary Abby Wambach (184) and Mia Hamm (158). Since retiring, she has been the Head Coach of the NWSL’s Boston Breaks since 2012.
- Chris Drury: True Connecticuters will know Drury. The winning pitcher of the 1989 World Series went on to win an NCAA title in hockey at Boston University. Drury was then the first player in NHL history to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (top college hockey player). He also received the Calder Memorial Trophy (NHL Rookie of the Year). He still holds the record for most career goals in Boston University’s history, with 113 potted. He played in the NHL from 1998-2011, scoring 255 goals with 360 assists.
Responsible Gambling
If you think you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, don’t hesitate to contact these responsible gambling resources:
- Responsible Play CT is a new resource developed in partnership with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming, the gambling industry, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the CT Lottery.
- The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling offers trained Helpline Specialists who connect callers to free. There are immediate support & treatment options in Connecticut.
- The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
- Problem Gambling Services
- 860-344-2244 or toll-free 866-440-4375
