CT Sports Betting Inches Closer With Second Compact Ready – Legal Sports Report

One of the last crucial steps before the launch of online CT sports betting should be completed by Monday morning.

That is the publication of the amended compact between the state of Connecticut and the Mashantucket Pequot Indians in the Federal Register. The compact was uploaded to the Public Inspection part of the Federal Register Friday with a Monday publish date.

The Mohegan Indians compact was published in the Sept. 15 edition of the Federal Register. While it is not clear why it took nearly two more weeks for the Mashantucket Pequot compact, it does not matter at this point.

The publication of both compacts means online CT sportsbooks can launch Oct. 7 in time for Week 5 NFL betting.

While the online industry launches Oct. 7, it is likely the first legal bets in the state will be made before then. That is because retail betting can take place on tribal land about a week after that tribes compact is published, a spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont told LSR.

That means Mohegan Sun could be close to taking its first bet. A picture posted Thursday by the CT Mirror displays Mohegan Tribal Chairman James Gessner Jr. showing Lamont FanDuel Sportsbook-branded kiosks in the casino.

Foxwoods, meanwhile, could take its first retail bets through DraftKings Sportsbook around Oct. 4, based on that timeline.

Both casinos are playing their cards relatively close to the chest on when a retail launch might take place.

Another important step was checked off the list Thursday when the states self-exclusion program went live.

The program technically only protects problem gamblers from state-licensed gaming like the PlaySugarHouse sportsbook that will be launched by the Connecticut Lottery.

Both tribes told the CT Mirror they plan to honor the states self-exclusion list, though, on top of maintaining their own.

There have been no updates from either New York or Massachusetts concerning sports betting, so the Oct. 7 launch is for those bettors too.

The New York State Gaming Commission decided it does not need to hear oral presentations from the six applicants looking to win licenses to launch online NY sportsbooks.

Massachusetts, meanwhile, has made no progress on legalizing MA sports betting since the House passed their bill in July. That led to Gov. Charlie Baker calling for action on Twitter earlier this month.

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CT Sports Betting Inches Closer With Second Compact Ready - Legal Sports Report