A bill seeking to legalize sports betting in Connecticut has gained momentum in the state legislature after receiving the support of both the Connecticut Lottery Corp. (CT Lottery) and tribal casino operator Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.

Mashantucket, CT Lottery throw support behind Connecticut sports betting billThe Hartford Courant reported the Connecticut held a public hearing on expanded gambling in the state that basically touched all forms of gambling—from sports betting to online and commercial casinos.

The hearing comes at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court (SC) is reviewing a challenge to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which essentially bars states from enacting laws that permit and regulate sports wagering.

Lawmakers believe that Connecticut must put "everything in place" in the event that the High Tribunal decides to lift the federal ban on sports betting.

Speaking in behalf of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation before the members of the Public Safety and Security Committee, Foxwood Executive Director of Online Gaming Seth Young expressed support for HB 5307 "and more broadly, for regulated online gambling."

The tribe estimated that the entire sports gambling market opportunity in Connecticut is worth between $75 million to $105 million. Connecticut could rake in $6.5 million in the first year of operations before growing to $9.1 million after five years, according to Young.

Combined with iGaming, Young said that the Mashantucket could bring $20.8 million to the state coffers in the first year to $29 million after five years.

The tribe also thumbed down the integrity fee that professional sports leagues pitched, saying that it goes against the good public policy and social responsibility.

"This state needs trusted partners to stand behind a strong program in order to restore the trust in iGaming and protect its constituents from dishonest operators," Young said in a statement.

Echoing the statement of the Mashantucket tribe, CT Lottery's Information Technology Director Steve Wagner pointed out that the federal ban on sports betting did not mitigate the game in the United States.

Should the lawmakers decide to allow sports wagering in Connecticut, Wagner appealed to consider CT Lottery as the sports betting operator.

Meanwhile, Attorney General George Jaspen advised lawmakers to tread with caution in dealing with sports gambling regulation, especially when it comes to the possible ramification of the bill on the current gambling pact of the state with the tribes.

Jaspen warned that the tribes might stop making payments to the state if the court finds that the sports betting law they passed violated the compact with the tribes.

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