Total Mortgage Arena, in Bridgeport, Connecticut will soon be named as a new retail sports betting destination, according to a local report in CT Insider.
This is good news for the city, which has had trouble bringing in a casino for the past several years. Bridgeport lost a bid for state approval in 2018 to open an MGM casino on the harbor.
The state has had laws on the books for the past two years, calling for the Connecticut Lottery Corp. to open retail sports betting locations in both Hartford and Bridgeport.
Hartford opened its retail sports betting site September 9. However, the Bridgeport location could open in the next few weeks, according to the local report.
Total Mortgage Arena will welcome in-person sports betting once open but will not be a full-functioning casino.
Connecticut Lottery Manager of Government Relations and Responsible Gambling Chris Davis told the CT Monitor that the lottery has discussed a potential location with the city and noted that they are “in the final stages of an agreement.
Legalized gambling first opened in Connecticut during 2009. During the past 14 years, the state has embraced keno, sports betting, fantasy sports and online casino gambling.
Sports betting and iGaming in Connecticut has been live since October 2021. Since the market’s launch, the state has generated more than $1bn in iGaming revenue, representing an all-time high for December 2022. Sports wagering is also available at certain lottery locations statewide, as well as at Mohegan Sun and at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
