Lawmakers introduce sports betting bill in Connecticut

State lawmakers introduced on Friday a measure that would allow sports betting in Connecticut.

US.- Connecticut lawmakers have been discussing the legalisation of sports betting for years, and even passed a bill that set that the modality would be legal if the US Supreme Court lifted its ban. Now, 9 lawmakers introduced a second bill that would pave the way to allow wagering on sports events.

Back in 2017, lawmakers in the state enacted a legislative piece that covered sports betting and established that the state would be able to offer such modality if the Supreme Court repealed PASPA, the federal Act that prevented states from getting revenue from sports wagering. Despite approving the measure, the state opted not to act on it as it had doubts regarding the status of tribal operators’ rights and if the law would violate their gaming compacts.

The new bill, called S655, says: “The general statutes be amended to authorise wagering on the results of certain sporting events,” and adds that its purpose is to establish competitive sports wagering on certain sporting events.

A previous bill that was introduced earlier this month aims to allow the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to provide sports betting services online and in-person at their facilities. The bill that would authorise the tribes to offer sports betting services would also allow the Connecticut Lottery Corp to operate online keno within the state “pursuant to agreements” with the tribes.