Connecticut Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is sports betting legal in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut legalised online and retail sports betting in 2021 after the state reached updated compacts with its two tribal nations, the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Online wagering went live in October 2021. The Gaming Division of the Department of Consumer Protection regulates the market, and the minimum age is 21.

The law created a deliberately small market. Each tribe was allowed one online sportsbook partner, and the Connecticut Lottery received the third online licence along with the right to run retail sports betting locations around the state.

Which sportsbooks can you use?

Because only three online licences exist, none of the three sportsbooks we review, BetMGM, bet365 and BetRivers, is currently available in Connecticut. If you want to use one of them, you would need to be physically present in a state where it is licensed, such as New Jersey.

The limited licence model means Connecticut bettors see less price competition than residents of neighbouring states. Shopping lines across the three available apps is still worthwhile.

Connecticut's 2021 law was a package deal: the same legislation that authorised sports betting also legalised online casino games and online lottery sales, with the tribes and the Lottery sharing the new opportunities. Expanding the number of sportsbooks would therefore mean reopening a carefully negotiated agreement, which is why industry observers do not expect the market to widen quickly. Any change would also need the agreement of the two tribal nations, whose compacts with the state are central to Connecticut's gaming economy.

College betting rules and in-state teams

Connecticut does not allow betting on its own college teams, including UConn, except when they take part in a tournament involving four or more teams. In practice that means UConn basketball games become available to bet during conference and NCAA tournaments, but not during the regular season.

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods both have retail sportsbooks, and the Lottery's sports betting locations offer in-person wagering elsewhere in the state. Geolocation applies to all mobile bets, and the apps check that you are inside Connecticut every time you place a wager.

Responsible gambling in Connecticut

The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling runs a helpline at 1-888-789-7777, and the state maintains a self-exclusion list covering online gaming. Winnings are taxable at state and federal level, so keep records of your results through the year. UConn's men's and women's basketball success makes March especially busy at the state's retail sportsbooks.