Online gambling, sports betting to arrive in Connecticut when FanDuel and DraftKings come to the casinos. How will it work?



By September, bettors in Connecticut can go online to gamble on sports teams at the state’s two casinos or through the state lottery.

HARTFORD, Conn. — By September, bettors in Connecticut can go online to gamble on sports teams at the state’s two casinos or through the state lottery.

Each Connecticut casino will also operate a sportsbook, where gamblers can go to play and enjoy other entertainment.

Expanded gambling was authorized by legislation enacted this spring after years of unsuccessful negotiations between the state and owners of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino. “This is 10 years in the making,” said Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Tribal Nation, which owns and operates Foxwoods.

 Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, the parent company of the Mohegan Sun, recently established a business unit, Mohegan Digital, to oversee the expanded gambling business.

“Getting this launched is an important piece, not just for Mohegan Sun, but for the state,” said Rich Roberts, president of Mohegan Digital.

FanDuel Group will partner with Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment to bring retail and online sports betting, gambling and daily fantasy sports to the Uncasville casino. Foxwoods Resort Casino will partner with sports betting company DraftKings.

The Department of the Interior must approve changes in Connecticut’s compact with the tribes that expand gambling and the state Department of Consumer Protection will have to draft regulations.

How will someone place a bet on a game?

A sportsbook, or physical presence where people can go to place bets, will be available in the casinos. For online gambling, the casinos and the Connecticut Lottery will have apps for gamblers to download and place bets.

The apps also will also make available casino and table games for gambling.

Will there be a different app than the existing FanDuel and DraftKings apps?

Yes. The online digital casinos will be in a partnership with FanDuel and DraftKings. Roberts said bettors will be redirected from the Mohegan Sun app if they want to download the digital gaming app.

He described two different and distinct areas: what he called a “real gambling app” with FanDuel and the existing Mohegan marketing app that’s free now to play casino games.

How will this compare to what the Lottery is doing?

Assuming it wins federal approval, the Connecticut Lottery Corp. will have an app that will allow users to place sports bets online from anywhere in the state, outside of tribal land, as detailed in the legislation and Department of Consumer regulations, said Lottery spokeswoman Tara Chozet.

The Lottery is negotiating terms with a potential sports betting vendor, she said. More information will be available when an agreement is completed.

This article excerpt is a reprint from the Finger Lakes Times. To view the complete, original story and comment, click here.


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