Online Sports Betting in Connecticut (2023)

Sports Betting in Connecticut

For online betting enthusiasts in Connecticut, October 19, 2021, marked a turning point as online sportsbooks became fully legal. This is a victory worth celebrating due to the challenges surrounding this bill. The state governor signed the online betting bill into law in May when the Supreme Court lifted PAPSA. Those who do not enjoy the thrill of visiting a brick-and-mortar bookie can now place bets online on their favorite teams. 

The law gives the two tribes in Connecticut, the Mohegan and Mashantucket tribes, the power to set up and operate online sportsbooks alongside any other betting operator from outside the state. Therefore, sports lovers can now participate in gaming products such as Daily Fantasy Sports, horse racing, NFL, MLB, basketball, hockey, and many other exciting sports via legal betting operators in the state. 

There’s a lot to grasp, especially for newbies in online betting in Connecticut. This piece has been designed to contain all the intricate details needed to enjoy betting via online bookies in Connecticut. A few online sportsbooks are open now, but we believe more will come to serve the people of Connecticut. 

Laws that Govern CT Online Sportsbooks

Residents in Connecticut can now wager on their favorite sports teams. As mentioned earlier, sports betting license has been given to the necessary bodies to offer these gaming products. Therefore, potential users must pay attention to the following sports gambling laws:

• All players will submit their SSN to confirm their residency in Connecticut during registration;
• Only players 21 and above are allowed;
• Registration is allowed in any state outside Connecticut, but bets can be placed only in Connecticut;
• The sports betting tax rate for CT is 13.75%
• Connecticut lottery can take up to 15 retail sportsbooks 
• Bettors cannot place wagers on Connecticut college sports teams 
• For mobile gambling, all player's GPS must be switched on and connected to a WiFi connection only;

Who Oversees Gambling Operations in Connecticut Online Sportsbooks?

All Connecticut online betting and betting sportsbooks will be overseen and regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division. Major duties of the department  include:

• Regulation of Lottery 
• Protection of minors and rehabilitation of players with gambling issues;
• Enforce the gambling laws of the state;
• Issue license to the operators;
• Ensure fairness of games offered by the operators.

Why Playing on CT Online Sportsbooks is Better than Illegal Offshore Sites

Players who place bets on online gambling bookies situated outside Connecticut are putting their money at risk. These websites are not licensed and regulated by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division. As the division does not have jurisdiction outside CT, they cannot help players get their winnings if they cannot withdraw.

In addition, such players will be up against a possibly rigged bookie since many of them are not compliant with international gambling sites nor have a regulatory body overseeing them. 

Additionally, many of these unlicensed online sportsbooks do not have strong customer support, leading to players being stranded if they have issues on the website.

How Do We Select and Review the Best Online Sportsbooks?

As Connecticut's online betting industry begins to take shape, many players will be confused about choosing the best bookie that offers a large betting market or sites that are safe to play and offer a good payout rate. 

Therefore, the following factors should be considered when deciding which sportsbooks to play at:

Bonuses, Promotions, and Rewards

The competition among online bookies for new players and retention of their regular players is fierce. Many of them use enticing offers to bring new players in. These offers come as either free bets, promotions, and rewards and are of different types.

The bonuses are usually offered to new players only and can be cashback for deposits (some bookies spread it to the first three deposits), no-deposit bonus, and free spins.

Existing players are not left out. They are given rewards and promotions that encourage active membership. Other big bettors are rewarded with VIP status, with an exclusive account officer and dedicated customer support. 

While all these offers are great at no cost to your pocket, some come with ridiculous wagering requirements. A wagering requirement is a list of conditions that must be fulfilled before a player can withdraw wins from his bonuses. Some of the wagering requirements are designed to frustrate players, making them abandon the funds in their accounts. 

Before depositing funds into your account, study the terms and conditions for each sportsbook first. These rules differ from bookie to bookie. 

Payment Options

This option is important and is a real determinant if the online sportsbook considers its players. Watch out for bookmakers that offer a majority of the popular payment options for ease of transactions. An online bookie doesn’t need to offer all the payment options out there; the popular ones present will show the sportsbook is serious about making transactions easy for the customers. Some popular payment options include:

• E-wallets 

Online sportsbook in CT which offer options like skrill, PayPal, etc., are trustworthy. Even if the bookie does not offer all, at least one E-wallet payment option should be available. 

• Credit/Debit Cards

Online sportsbooks which have Mastercard, Verve, or other bank cards for deposit and withdrawals are preferable. The higher the number of credit and debit cards offered, the higher the ease of financial transactions.

• Cryptocurrency

This option is not popular yet, but online sportsbooks that offer Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital crypto coins are signs of serious and advanced betting operators. This option is not popular because of the unstable nature surrounding cryptocurrency. 

• Bank Deposit/Withdrawal

The online sportsbook should have the option to allow the player to credit his account through directly depositing at his bank. This option is common and probably among the selected few chosen by others. Players should confirm with the customer support on which banks are supported.

Betting Market Available 

Although the Connecticut online betting industry is new, coupled with a small number of online bookies available, players should choose a sportsbook with more betting market prospects. Currently, the betting market available for residents in CT include NFL, Daily fantasy sports, MLB, Horse racing, NBA, and many more.  

Customer Care Support

Many online sportsbooks rely on the feedback gotten from interactions between the players and their customer support. Before registering at any online bookie, check out the customer support and confirm how many modes are available to reach out to the team. The normal modes should be through live chat, email, or phone numbers.

The best online sportsbooks in Connecticut should also have a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section that answers general questions on the website for newbies. This is helpful, especially for days when you may need help with your account. 

Security

The best online sportsbooks in Connecticut will be those that take the security of their website seriously. Such bookies will be actively seeking to protect the information of the players on the website. Before including any sportsbook in our review, we confirm the security status of such a website. 

To do this, there are boxes to tick. First, scroll to the foot of the website and confirm if the bookie is licensed by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division and any other top regulatory body. Confirm that game fairness bodies like eCOGRA also inspect the site for fair gameplay. What eCOGRA does is test the games offered by the casino to give players a chance to win.

Lastly, confirm if the website is encrypted with the latest security encryption protocols. 

Mobile App

All online sportsbooks in Connecticut we review have a mobile app that is free to download for their players. The betting apps should be available for Android, iOS, as well as Windows devices. This gives you the option of playing conveniently on the go. Users can easily log in and place a bet on any sport. In addition, there are in-live betting on these applications; you can watch live games while you place a bet. 

Step by Step Guide on How to Join a  Sportsbook Operator in CT

To be a part of the online gaming space in CT, you would need to have an account on a preferred sportsbook. This is the first step to beginning your betting voyage. Here, we would walk you through the easy steps to getting a betting account:

Creating an Account at Online Sportsbooks in Connecticut

Registering at any CT online bookie of your choice is straightforward. To complete your registration, you’ll need some details. To get started on your favorite bookie:

• Decide which online sportsbook in Connecticut is the best for you. Make sure you confirm which of them are genuine by following our tips on which bookie is legit. 
• Protect yourself from phishing links by entering the links on the address bar. Do not click on any link sent through a mail
• Select the “join” button usually located at the top of the homepage
• Many online sportsbooks offer a promo code to claim welcome bonuses. Enter the code to claim your bonuses. 
• Agree to the terms and conditions, also accept you are 21 years and older before submitting. 
• A confirmation mail will be sent to the email address provided; your account will be active once you confirm your account.
• Before making a deposit, make sure to read the terms and conditions attached. 

How to Make Transactions on Online Sportsbook in CT - Deposit, and Withdrawal

All regulated CT online bookies will provide you with different methods to make your financial transactions securely. All deposit and withdrawal methods provided should be safe for you. Please confirm the website's security and the number of payment methods available before you register at the website.

Some of the payment methods commonly found in CT online bookmakers include:

• In-person deposit and withdrawal at the partner brick and mortar bookie
• Credit/Debit cards;
• Play+ Prepaid cards;
• Bank and wire transfer;
• E-wallet options (skrill, PayPal, Neteller, etc.).