Online wagering and sports betting could finally be legal
in Connecticut as early as this fall.
Connecticut's two tribal casinos agreed to a 10-year deal
on Thursday.
For sports wagers, the state gets an almost 14% cut. For
online games, it's 18% at first, then 20%.
The Connecticut Lottery could also offer sports betting at
15 locations across the state. That includes off-track betting sites, such as Bobby
V's in Stamford. But they’re cut out of the lucrative online market.
Bobby V's owner says, "Connecticut consumers will be
deprived of a healthy competitive betting marketplace and the Connecticut jobs
that Sportech supports will be at risk."
Gov. Ned Lamont called it a “good agreement,” but it
still needs approval from state lawmakers and federal regulators.
“It's something that all of…our neighboring states are
doing. And Connecticut is going to play. I think it's a way to bring our cities
and towns back to life,” says Lamont.
One of those cities is Bridgeport, which would gain a new
sports betting venue – another draw for the Park City.
But one community is losing out. The deal stops
development of a new casino in East Windsor, near Hartford. Both tribes have
spent $20 million planning the site, but the Mashantucket Pequot tribal
chairman says Gov. Lamont insisted on the provision over “legal concerns.”
East
Windsor lawmakers expressed disappointment.
“This
agreement has positive factors for Connecticut, but it's nothing but bad news
for East Windsor," said state Sen.
Saud Anwar. "Two years
after the East Windsor casino first received approval to move forward, for it
to be abandoned is incredibly disappointing.”
Lamont projects the state could take in $47 million from
the deal in the first year alone.