Connecticut Lottery Names Sportsbook Operator For Launch

• The Connecticut Lottery has named Rush Street Interactive (RSI) as their sportsbook operator.
• The Nutmeg State will have DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive sportsbooks.
• September 9 is the expected launch date of the Connecticut sports betting industry, which happens to be the first day of the 2021-2022 NFL season.

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Lottery was the final piece of the regulated sports betting puzzle in Connecticut as they finally announced on Thursday that they will be using Rush Street Interactive (RSI) as their sports betting platform. They were given the ability to open one mobile sportsbook along with opening 15 retail locations statewide which will all be powered by RSI.

The lottery has signed a 10-year deal with RSI.

“We look forward to working with the team at Rush Street Interactive,” said Greg Smith, CLC President & CEO. “We had 15 quality proposals from well-established gaming companies, and RSI rose to the top through the combination of its experience and commitment to quality products, customer service, and responsible gaming safeguards. We’re excited about this partnership and know our players will be getting an excellent product and customer service.”

What This Means For Connecticut Sports Betting

Connecticut sports betting was regulated earlier this year with the two tribes in Connecticut expanding their Tribal Gaming Compacts to include sportsbooks. The lottery was included in the legislation known as House Bill 6451 as well to make for a more competitive market in the state.

Now that RSI has been named as the third and final sports wagering operator for Connecticut’s regulated sports betting industry, a launch of the market is close. It was expected by lawmakers that the state would be able to roll out their sportsbooks by the time the 2021-2022 NFL season rolled around and with this announcement, that has now become a reality.

Mobile sportsbooks are slated to go live first, at least for the lottery. The Mohegan Sun Tribe partnered with FanDuel and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe partnered with DraftKings. Both tribes could have their retail expansions ready to open soon but they will certainly do so before the end of 2021.

Connecticut Will Have Sportsbooks Soon

There is talk of a launch date coinciding with the NFL season opener on September 9 to start out with a bang for the sports gaming industry in the Nutmeg State. As previously stated, mobile platforms should be the first to be seen by residents wagering on the games. However, this news is certainly exciting for the state and the lottery and RSI, of course.

“We are honored to be selected by the CLC to bring sports betting to the state and people of Connecticut,” said Richard Schwartz, President of RSI. “This partnership represents a significant milestone for RSI, as the trust and confidence of a state-backed organization such as the CLC further validates the strength of our award-winning online gaming platform and customer service. Building on our proven track record of success in the tri-state area, where RSI was an early entrant in New Jersey and is the market leader in retail sports betting amongst New York’s commercial casinos, we are thrilled to collaborate with the CLC team to offer Connecticuters safe, convenient, and unique gaming experiences.”

News tags: Connecticut | Connecticut Lottery | DraftKings | FanDuel | Greg Smith | House Bill 6451 | Mashantucket Pequot Tribe | Mohegan Sun Tribe | NFL | Richard Schwartz | Rush Street Interactive