Connecticut Submits Amended Tribal Gaming Compacts in Next Step Towards Legalizing Sports Betting

As we reported previously, Connecticut enacted legislation on May 25, 2021, authorizing retail and online sports betting, online casino gaming and online daily fantasy sports, to be offered exclusively by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and the state’s Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Indian Tribes.

On Tuesday, July 27th, Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut submitted amended state-tribal gaming compacts to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). This pushed sports betting one step closer to being officially launched in the state. The BIA now has 45 days to review the compacts and decide whether to approve or reject them. However, should the BIA take the full 45 days to render a decision, its decision would come on September 10th, one day after the NFL season begins. If no decision is made after 45 days, the compacts would automatically be approved.

In addition to the required BIA approval, sports betting cannot officially begin in Connecticut until the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection finalizes its sports betting regulations, which it is currently drafting. Once drafted, the General Assembly’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee (Committee) will need to approve the new regulations before sports betting can officially launch. The Committee has a meeting scheduled for August 24th. There is optimism that the regulations will be ready to be voted upon at the August 24th meeting.

We will continue to provide updates on this matter as it further develops.

Associate at White and Williams LLP | 215.864.7133 | etiennej@whiteandwilliams.com | View Bio | See More Posts