Online casino became legal in Connecticut on October 7, 2021, after Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill allowing both online sports betting and online casino gaming. To operate in the state, an online casino has to partner with either the Mashantucket Pequot or Mohegan tribes, which operate the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, respectively.
DraftKings Casino, our top-rated CT app for 2024, operates in the state through a partnership with the Mashantucket tribe and Foxwoods Casino. DraftKings offers an unbeatable selection of slots, table games, and live dealer games, along with a generous bonus offer that provides new players with $100 in site credits.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (MI/NJ/PA/WV) or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). Help is available for problem gambling, call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 21+. Physically present in CT/MI/NJ/PA/WV only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms draftkings.com/casino.
CT Online Casino Gaming: Quick Facts
Players must be 21+ years old to gamble at online casinos in Connecticut.
Geolocation technology is used to confirm you are within state lines before every session.
Casino games available in CT include slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, video poker, and a variety of live dealer games.
Tax revenue benefits CT state programs and initiatives including education programs, problem gambling services, and public health initiatives.
The regulatory authority for online casinos in the state falls to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Online Betting and Casino Timeline in Connecticut
The legislative process to bring legal online sports betting and casino gaming to Connecticut was far from straightforward and included years of false starts and failed bills. Eventually, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill 122-21 that would sail through the Senate before being signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont.
Gov. Lamont had already negotiated a deal with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to bring online gambling to the state. Covid-19 had battered the tribe's casinos, and Connecticut's proximity to legal betting states meant lost revenue for both the tribes and the state.
The official start date for legal online gambling in the state was October 7, 2021. According to the CT Gaming Division, online casinos in Connecticut already do over $1 billion in revenue every month, resulting in over $4 million in monthly tax revenue for the state.
How Online Gambling Works in Connecticut
A lot of work went into bringing online casino gambling to Connecticut, but it takes even more work to keep it here. The number one focus for both operators and regulators is ensuring that online wagering is both safe and fair.
To do this, operators like DraftKings and FanDuel work with both independent third-party verifiers and state regulators. Here is a complete overview of how the process works in Connecticut:
How CT Keeps Online Gambling Safe
There are several steps online casinos take to ensure player safety. These include age and identity verification, encrypted payment gateways, and responsible gambling measures.
Within a casino's website or app, players receive frequent reminders of how long they have been playing and how much money they have wagered. Additionally, players can set limits and even opt out of online casino games altogether.
How CT Keeps Online Gambling Fair
Most casino players are familiar with the phrase 'random number generator.' An online casino operator uses a random number generator to determine the outcome for many games, including slots.
These random number generators are tested by third-party operators to ensure the results are within Connecticut's established fairness specifications. The results from this testing are shared directly with state regulators.
The state of Connecticut continuously monitors this data and can fine, suspend, or revoke an online casino operator's license at any time.
DraftKings Casino has an impressive selection of games that includes over 1,000 slots.
What Casino Games are Legal in Connecticut?
As online casinos continue to evolve here in the US, the variety of games available has expanded tremendously. In Connecticut, this means online casino players can play nearly every game that is available at a brick-and-mortar casino.
Slots
Slots are the most extensive category of games at most online casinos. DraftKings, our top-rated online casino in Connecticut, has a slot library that includes nearly 1,000 titles. This library is sorted by game types and features, can be searched by title or keyword, and ranges from $.01 per spin up to $1,000 per spin.
While there are several popular games from the casino floor available at online operators like DraftKings, many of the more popular titles are not available online. This is because the game's developer owns the license and has chosen to not make it available online.
Table Games
Online casinos offer classic table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. There is a seemingly endless number of variations for each game available at top online operators like FanDuel and DraftKings. As of June 2024, DraftKings Casino has a total of 126 different table games to choose from.
Video Poker
Video poker has built a reputation as offering some of the highest payout rates among all casino games. Modern video poker games combine features from traditional slots with traditional poker. This allows players to enjoy the classic poker experience with the opportunity to win massive jackpots.
Live Dealer Games
Perhaps the fastest-growing category of online casino games is live dealer. The experience of playing with a live dealer mirrors what you would find on a casino floor. Players sit at a live table with a dealer, and the game plays out as if you were inside the Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods casino.
At DraftKings, there are typically 36 blackjack tables, 9 roulette tables, 5 baccarat tables, and a variety of specialty games (like Ultimate Texas Hold'em) available at all times. Minimum bets range from $5 per hand up to $100+.
DraftKings Casino operates in Connecticut through a partnership with Foxwoods
Tips for New Casino Players
If you are new to playing casino games online, there are a handful of tips that will help you build a bankroll while avoiding big losses. Here are three key takeaways we think every new gambler in Connecticut should be aware of:
Take Advantage of Welcome Bonus Offers
The easiest win you will ever have as an online casino player is the welcome bonus you receive when you sign up. These bonus funds offer you incentive to sign up, and give your bankroll an instant boost.
The current DraftKings Casino promo code offer includes $50 in site credit when you play $5+ in the app. This offer is only available to new Connecticut players who are 21+ years of age.
Set Limits and Gamble Responsibly
One of the easiest ways you can avoid big losses while gambling online is by setting limits and sticking to them. Casino operators allow you to limit your own play by setting limits within the app. Once you reach the limit, the app will notify you and your session will end.
This tool is extremely helpful, because it guarantees that a bad session will never turn into a devastating loss. If you are down an amount you are comfortable losing, the app will simply remind you that it is time to walk away.
Understand Games and Odds
One of the most common mistakes among new gamblers is playing games they don't fully understand. Before playing a new game, even if it's just a random slot that looks appealing, be sure to review the rules, odds, and payout structure before playing.
Oftentimes, it isn't clear how rare a jackpot type win is until you see it laid out as odds. If you are playing $1 spins and hoping to hit a 1-in-4 million jackpot, the odds would say you need to make $4 million worth of spins to hit the jackpot.
A big part of gambling responsibly while playing online is sticking to the games you know best.
Gambling problem? Help is available for problem gambling, call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 21+. Physically present in CT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms draftkings.com/casino.
Chris Lollis is a sports betting expert that has covered the industry for more than a decade. Over that time he has covered everything from the repeal of PASPA to the state-by-state legislative changes. Chris serves as the Head of Content at EatWatchBet, and is responsible for tracking latest news and updates from every U.S. sportsbook.
