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CT Lottery Partners with Rush Street Interactive, Connecticut May See Legal Sports Betting in Time for NFL Season

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CT Lottery) announced its partnership with Rush Street Interactive yesterday. The Chicago-based firm offers online gambling and sports betting products in ten US states and will assist Connecticut in its push toward having legal sports wagering up and running as soon as possible. Rush Street Interactive will operate CT Lottery’s anticipated sports wagering platform under the terms of a ten-year preliminary arrangement.

The partnership is expected to bring at least $170 million in revenue to the state coffers over the next ten years. CT Lottery representatives also disclosed the Connecticut-authorized operator Sportech will accept sports wagers at ten landbased sites. The terrestrial locations were granted to the state’s official lottery operator under the provisions of a new bill approved by Governor Ned Lamont earlier this year.

Rob Simmelkjaer, who chairs the CT Lottery Board of Directors, is confident Connecticut might see legal sports betting in time for the NFL season. Chairman Simmelkjaer also said the launch of in-person sports wagering might precede that of online betting. Much like other US states pushing for legalized wagering on sports, Connecticut is anxious to get its betting industry up and running in time for the lucrative NFL season.

Legal Online Lotteries May Arrive in Connecticut in the First Quarter of 2022

The Chief Executive Officer of the CT Lottery, Gregory Smith, said Connecticut residents could anticipate legal online lotteries as early as the first quarter of next year. Proposals for the online lottery operator are expected in one week or so. Under the new gambling legislation in Connecticut, only the official lottery and the two federally recognized Indian tribes are permitted to run landbased and remote sports betting.

The Mohegans, who own and operate the terrestrial Mohegan Sun Casino, have already partnered with FanDuel, while the Mashantucket Pequots, owners of Foxwoods Resorts Casino, have teamed up with DraftKings. The partnerships set the scene for a potentially competitive sports wagering market for punters from the Nutmeg State.

Under the new legislation, the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans are also permitted to provide online casino gambling and fantasy sports competitions. The tribes and CT Lottery are eagerly awaiting the US Department of the Interior to approve the amendments to their current gambling agreements with the Connecticut Government.

Additionally, the Legislative Regulation Review Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly must grant its approval for a set of regulations that will govern the new gambling market in the Nutmeg State. It would include sports betting, online casino gaming, keno, online lotteries, and fantasy sports competitions.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is yet to finalize the new regulations, which are likely to reach the committee in time for its next meeting on August 31. Rodney Butler, the tribal chair of the Mashantucket Pequots, said his tribe will launch its online gaming and betting services as soon as it can legally do so. According to Mr. Butler, September 9 is an achievable date.

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) operates online gambling services in ten states, including New Jersey. Earlier this week, the company filed a joint application for a mobile sportsbook permit that would allow it to legally take sports wagers in New York. Richard Schwartz, President of RSI, is confident his company will manage to stay on par with its tribal competitors. Mr. Schwartz pointed out CT Lottery will gain a competitive edge thanks to RSI services like the early cashout and in-game betting.



 Author: Harrison Young

Harrison Young is an experienced writer, who started his career almost 8 years ago. Prior to joining our team at CasinoGamesPro, he worked as an editor for a small magazine.
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