Home of Yale University and ESPN, Connecticut is the third smallest state in the US as well as one of the most prosperous. It ranks second in terms of personal income per capita after the District of Columbia, with an average income of $79,000 per resident. The high income of the locals combined with the state’s dense population and relatively lenient attitude toward gambling make Connecticut a small hotbed of wagering activities.
Residents of the Nutmeg State have access to various legal forms of gambling. State-operated lotteries, casino gaming, pari-mutuel wagering, social and charitable gaming all enjoy a legal status here. Two tribal casinos call the state their home, the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville and Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket.
The two tribal gambling businesses provide employment to over 24,200 Connecticuters and annually contribute more than $768 million in taxes and tribal revenue share payments. Recent legislative changes paved the way for a gambling expansion in the state.
Locals can now wager on sports at retail locations as well as remotely via licensed sportsbook apps and websites. Online casino games are also regulated and legal in Connecticut, with players facing a broad choice of games, including slots, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. Participating in daily fantasy contests is yet another alternative for Connecticuters who seek to gamble remotely.
Landbased Gambling Laws in Connecticut
Landbased gambling activities on the territory of Connecticut are governed by several pieces of legislation, including the Connecticut General Statutes, Public Act 17-89, and Public Act 17-161. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is the primary legislation that covers casino gaming on tribal lands within Connecticut. The Gaming Division within the Department of Consumer Protection oversees most forms of legal gambling in the Nutmeg State and enforces the state gambling laws.
Connecticut General Statutes
Mashantucket Pequot Compact
Mohegan Tribe Compact
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)
Public Act 17-89
Public Act 17-161
Connecticut General Statutes
The Connecticut General Statutes contain references to gambling in Chapter 946 which covers all offenses against public policy. Section 53-278a of said chapter defines gambling as staking money or something else of value for profit contingent wholly or partially on chance. The definition extends to cover devices and games such as craps, blackjack, slots, roulette, and poker.
It excludes legal contests where the participants earn awards or other prizes based on personal skills like speed, endurance, and strength. Legitimate business transactions that represent valid contracts, state-operated lotteries, raffles, bingo, pull tab tickets, and daily fantasy sports also fall under the exceptions outlined in Section 53-278a.
Professional gambling is defined in the state statutes but the term refers to those who conduct unauthorized wagering activities for personal gain. Some of the examples provided in the section include unauthorized bookmaking, unauthorized chance-based games like roulette, pool-selling, and illegal slot machines, among others. Claw games and redemption machines are not considered gambling devices.
The provision of illegal gambling is penalized under Section 53-278b. Individuals who encourage or induce others to engage in gambling are committing class B misdemeanors. Those who willingly engage in professional gambling commit a class A misdemeanor.
The penalties for class B misdemeanor are imprisonment of up to six months and fines capped at $1,000. Persons found guilty of class A misdemeanors suffer more severe penalties as they face potential sentences of one year in prison and maximum fines of $2,000.
Mashantucket Pequot Compact
Some of the exceptions outlined in Section 53-278a paved the way for casino-style gambling within the reservations of sovereign tribes in Connecticut. Tribal gambling commenced in the mid-1980s when the Mashantucket Pequot opened a high-stakes bingo room on their reservation. The sovereign nation assumed legal control over its tribal territory and gained federal recognition thanks to a congressional act.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council then passed an ordinance that enabled the tribal members to run bingo games on their land. Foxwoods started as a bingo hall but quickly expanded its operations by adding slot machines and table games to its product range. A poker room was added in the mid-1990s. The Mashantucket Pequot provide casino-style gaming under the terms of their compact with the Connecticut government.
Mohegan Tribe Compact
The federal government recognized the Mohegan Tribe as a sovereign nation via Public Law 103-377, also known as the Mohegan Nation of Connecticut Land Claims Settlement Act of 1994. Gaining sovereignty enabled the Mohegan to commence gambling operations within their newly acquired land in trust.
Located in Uncasville, the Mohegan Sun opened its doors to customers in 1996. It presently offers over 300 gaming tables and 5,000 slot machines. The lavish casino operates under the terms of its compact with the state of Connecticut approved by the US Department of Interior in November 1994.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)
All tribal gambling activities, including those that occur on the territory of Connecticut, are governed by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Approved by Ronald Reagan in 1988, IGRA enabled state governments to negotiate compacts with federally recognized tribes for the operation of Class III gambling games.
State authorities have a limited role where the regulation of Class III activities is concerned. The category covers a broad range of casino-style games, including slots, banked card games like baccarat and blackjack, roulette, craps, and electronic games based on chance. The sovereign nations must fulfill several conditions to legally provide such games.
To begin with, the games should be lawful and allowed within the respective state where the tribal land in trust is located. The Secretary of the Department of Interior must endorse the compacts between the states and the tribes. Finally, the councils of the sovereign nations must issue tribal gaming ordinances and submit them for approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC).
Public Act 17-89
The Connecticut General Assembly approved Public Act 17-89 in 2017. The legislation authorized the Mohegan and the Mashantucket Pequot to carry out casino gaming at a venue located outside their tribal lands. The Tribal Winds Casino is a joint project of MMCT Venture, a limited liability company owned by the two tribes.
The initial plan of the tribes was to construct a gaming facility in Hartford County’s East Windsor on the site of a demolished movie theater. The tribes envisioned a multi-million project across a 100,000 square-feet floor space, with sixty table games and around 1,800 slots in addition to eateries and entertainment venues.
Various legal obstacles plagued the project right from the start. Since the planned casino was to be located outside the sovereign lands of the Mohegan and the Mashantucket Pequot, the project required amendments to the gaming compacts of the two tribes. The Department of Interior (DOI) then had to approve the amended compacts before MMCT Venture could move forward with the project.
DOI gave the thumbs up to the compact amendments in March 2019 much to the displeasure of MGM Resorts International. The global hospitality company operates MGM Springfield, a Massachusetts casino resort located approximately thirteen miles away from the projected Tribal Winds site. MGM Resorts subsequently started legal proceedings against DOI, arguing its decision violated federal law and gave an unfair advantage to the Connecticut tribes.
The company dropped the lawsuit in 2021 after MMCT Venture unveiled its intention to put the Tribal Winds project on hold for ten years. The global coronavirus pandemic largely influenced this decision. The tribes determined it would be best to postpone the construction during the economic downturn that ensued.
Public Act 17-161
Public Act 17-161 authorizes the sale of raffle tickets by non-profit organizations as of October 2017. Fraternities, religious, educational, and charitable organizations can also run raffles and bazaars as long as the organizers of these charitable events do not receive any remuneration. Approval from municipal authorities is necessary for the purpose. The individuals who sell or market the raffle tickets should be at least 16 years old.
Tribal Gaming Compact Terms and Requirements
Commercial casinos remain unavailable in Connecticut and the situation is unlikely to change soon now that the Tribal Winds project is officially on hold. Respectively, no licensing structure is in place for commercial gaming in the state. The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot operate in accordance with their compact terms.
Terms of Mohegan Compact
Terms of Mashantucket Pequot Compact
Terms of Mohegan Compact
Both compacts allow for the legal provision of Class III casino-style games. The Mohegan agreement with the state enables the tribe to offer banked poker games, blackjack, dice games like craps and sic bo, money wheels, baccarat, roulette, over-under, acey-ducey, and lottery games. Off-track pari-mutuel wagering on races that involve animals and jai alai is also permitted.
The Mohegan Sun Casino can only accept payments from patrons made in cash, credit cards, or checks. Staff members require licenses for gaming employees from the state regulator and must provide detailed information on their industry experience, education, and past criminal sentences, if any. The applications must also contain fingerprint cards and photographs of the potential employees.
Applicants with a past criminal history and poor reputation are likely to have their candidacies denied. Employees must refile their documents for license renewal after not more than one year. All staff members who service the casino floor must wear identification badges. Only companies registered with the state gaming agency can supply the tribe with gambling equipment. The suppliers must renew their registration once a year.
Last but not least, the compact prohibits the tribe from allowing armed patrons on the gaming premises. The same applies to players who engage in disorderly conduct and disturb the peace on the floor. The tribal regulator (MTGC) must maintain a list of individuals barred from entering the gambling facility due to previous gaming-related convictions like cheating, for example.
Terms of Mashantucket Pequot Compact
The tribal-state compact of the Mashantucket Pequot authorizes the provision of roughly the same gambling activities as those allowed in the Mohegan Sun. Employee licenses and gaming equipment registrations are again necessary for staff members and gaming equipment suppliers at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The maximum validity of the permits is again one year. The rest of the terms and requirements outlined in the Mashantucket compact largely coincide with those of the Mohegan tribal-state agreement.
The tribal-state compacts have no maximum expiry dates but remain effective indefinitely unless the two parties decide to terminate them upon mutual agreement in writing. Each tribe has a separate gaming council that supervises its operations and preserves their integrity.
What is more, the compacts contain clauses that require non-uniformed representatives of the council to be present on the gaming floor at all times and report all cases of noncompliance with the compact terms. The two councils must consult with the Department of Consumer Protection to authorize new games or introduce amendments to existing gaming policies.
Legal Status of Online Gambling
After several false starts, Connecticut Legislature finally legalized online gambling in May 2021 when HB6451 passed into law as Public Act 21-23. The legislation marked the first major update of local gaming laws since Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mohegan Sun opened doors in the 1990s. It ushered in a new era of interactive gaming, bringing legal online sports wagering and online casino games to Connecticuters.
Public Act 21-23 authorized the issuance of three master licenses for the Mohegan, the Mashantucket Pequot, and the state-sanctioned Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CT Lottery). Each entity can operate no more than one online sports wagering skin. The Mohegan Tribe teamed up with FanDuel, the Mashantucket Pequot chose DraftKings, and CT Lottery went for a partnership with SugarHouse.
Locals can punt on sporting events via online websites, dedicated mobile applications, at retail locations, or via designated betting kiosks at the tribal casino resorts. Punters seeking to place their wagers remotely can do so only if they are located within the state borders. Visitors of the Nutmeg State can join the action as well. Geolocation technology is in place to determine the whereabouts of the bettors. The minimum age requirement coincides with the legal age for alcohol consumption (21 years old).
Daily fantasy sports also became available to Connecticuters thanks to Public Act 21-23. The latter contains restrictionary provisions that prohibit the sportsbooks from accepting wagers on collegiate events if the participants are from Connecticut colleges or universities. Taking action on high-school games is off-limit as well.
The two tribal operators received authorization for the provision of regulated interactive casino games, including roulette, baccarat, blackjack, video poker, keno, and slots. The state lottery operator, however, is not permitted to offer remote gaming. Amendments were introduced to the two tribal compacts to allow for the new forms of gambling ushered in by the 2021 legislation.
Responsible Gambling Policies in Connecticut
The minimum age for gambling participation in Connecticut coincides with that for the purchase of alcoholic drinks. This is to say Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods cannot admit any person under the age of 21 to their gambling facilities. Online players are subject to the same restrictions and undergo obligatory verification of their age and identity upon registration. Compact terms allow the two native casinos to serve complimentary alcoholic beverages to their patrons.
Responsible Gambling Policies
Advertising Policies and Restrictions
Responsible Gambling Policies
Players who feel they can no longer control their gambling spending can self-exclude themselves from wagering both in the landbased casino facilities and online. Voluntary exclusion is possible for a year, five years, or permanently.
Mobile sportsbooks must feature prominent information about responsible betting, along with toll-free telephone lines patrons can call for information about compulsive gambling. The apps must clearly display how much time players have spent at the remote sportsbook or casino.
Advertising Policies and Restrictions
All marketing materials should contain conspicuous messages that promote responsible gaming, along with numbers for problem gambling helplines. Advertisements must not feature photos of entertainers and celebrities as well as content that might hold appeal with underage viewers.
It makes sense that minors themselves cannot appear in the ads, either. Marketing information should not paint gambling as a means of achieving personal or social success. Last but not least, ads should not imply that risking higher amounts of money could improve one’s winning chances.
Gambling Regulators in Connecticut
The Gaming Division of the Department of Consumer Protection is the main watchdog that oversees gambling operations in Connecticut. The Division interacts with the two authorized tribes to ensure all gaming employees have obtained the necessary permits for the conduct of casino-style games. It also supervises the operation of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to maintain the integrity of state-sanctioned lotteries.
Additionally, each sovereign nation has established a separate tribal gaming agency. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission (MTGC) watches over the Mohegan Sun. It is assigned the responsibility of ensuring all gaming within the tribe’s reservation is conducted in line with the terms of the Mohegan compact. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Gaming Commission (MPTNGC) exercises regulatory oversight over all gambling operations conducted by the Mashantucket Pequot. Each gaming agency must report to its own tribal council.
And finally, there is the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) created under the provisions of IGRA. The NIGC is an independent oversight body that works with the US Departments of the Interior and Justice. The agency oversees all gambling activities from the Class II category as well as certain aspects of Class III gambling.
It provides training and technical aid to the individual tribal commissions. All tribes must submit their councils’ gaming ordinances to the NIGC for assessment and approval before they can operate any gambling facilities.
Conclusion
Connecticut offers somewhat limited options when it comes to landbased gambling, with no commercial casinos and two tribal casino resorts only. On the positive side of things, the Nutmeg State witnessed an expansion of online gambling thanks to recent changes in legislation that allowed for the legal and regulated provision of remote casino games, sports wagering, and daily fantasy contests. By the looks of it, Connecticut is set to become a worthy competitor on the interactive gambling scene as the state collected $1.7 million in tax revenue during the first month of regulated online sports betting and casino gaming alone.
