The bipartisan Regulation Review Committee voted 9-4 Tuesday in favor of the rules package, which pertains to Connecticut’s expanded gaming law signed in May.
The U.S. Department of the Interior still needs to sign off on the regulations before the Connecticut Lottery and the tribes that operate Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino can launch online sports betting. Licensing for sports betting and iGaming cannot start until the DOI publishes updated gaming agreements.
Mashantucket Pequot chairman Rodney Butler expressed confidence that tribes may receive federal approval by the start of the NFL season on Sept. 9.
“We expect action from the federal Department of Interior within the next two weeks on the compact amendments submitted in late July, and it is our understanding that once that approval comes, the state Department of Consumer Protection will issue master wagering licenses,’' said Butler. “With the NFL season kickoff fast approaching, we are working to launch online gaming and sports betting as soon as we are legally allowed to do so.”
Mashantucket’s Foxwoods has a sportsbook partnership in place with DraftKings, and the Mohegans have partnered with FanDuel. The Connecticut Lottery has a partnership in place with Rush Street, which will operate under the SugarHouse brand.
Opponents of the emergency regulations criticized the hastened approval process, questioning why the state needed to acquiesce to the NFL calendar.
“I’m not here to relitigate or reargue the original bill,” said Rep. David Rutigliano, (R-Trumbill), according to the Hartford Courant. “I just didn’t think it was an emergency. It’s a little transparent that we’re trying to beat the kickoff to the NFL season, which I think is outrageous. We have twisted and turned the state government and all its power to beat a deadline that didn’t need to be beat. ... I don’t think we needed to rush.”
