Connecticut senators file new sports betting bill
Eight Connecticut senators have jointly filed a new bill with the aim of legalising sports betting in the US state.
SB 665 intends to establish competitive wagering on the results of certain sports events, but the initial filing puts the onus on the state legislature to develop a regulatory framework for the vertical, rather than setting out a proposed model for the sector.
State senators Mary Daugherty Abrams, Dennis Bradley, Steve Cassano, Christine Cohen, Bob Duff, Julie Kushner, Martin Looney and Norman Needleman have all declared their support for the bill.
The legislation been referred to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security for further consideration.
Connecticut toyed with the idea of legalising sports betting last year in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA. In August, former Connecticut Governor Dannel Mallot said that he was open to discussing plans with lawmakers to legalise sports wagering before the end of 2018.
However, initial talks with two Native American tribes over regulations broke down and the state was forced to wait until this year’s legislative session began on January 9. Ned Lamont replaced Mallot as Governor at the opening of the session.
Connecticut actually passed a law in July 2017 to legalise sports betting if the federal ban on such activities were to be lifted. However, the state opted not to move ahead with the plans due to uncertainties over whether this would infringe on tribal operators' rights. The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes currently hold exclusive rights to offer casino gambling in the state, and the compact between the tribes and the state would have to be amended for any form of sports betting to launch.
Image: Matthew Hester