Legal Connecticut Online Sportsbooks Guide For 2024
There are a few things you should know if you are considering engaging in sports betting in Connecticut. First, there will not be any state based opportunities to bet on sports in CT. It is not legal to operate any type of sportsbook within the United States except for in Nevada or Delaware. The State of Connecticut does have one location that provides betting on horse racing, dog racing and Jai-Alai games, but no other sports related events are included.
With state regulated options off the table, what is left? Thankfully there is a network of trusted and legitimate offshore online sportsbooks that are legally licensed to provide services to sports bettors in the USA, including those located in Connecticut. Our team has combed through the potential virtual destinations circulating on the World Wide Web and has refined the list of option down to only the most reputable brands that are licensed, certified and regulated.
Each of these sports betting sites has been carefully vetted by our analysts, and represents the best that the industry has to offer. We've also provided you with some information on the Connecticut Nutmeg State Games, which is an Olympic style summer games tournament open to amateur residents, students and servicemen and women in Connecticut.
Top Rated Sportsbook For CT Players In 2024
Bovada is currently the leading US friendly brand when it comes to legal and reputable online gambling, and their sportsbook is no exception. Covering all most popular sports events, and offering advanced features such as live betting and a sophisticated mobile sportsbook application, Bovada has easily climbed the ranks to the earn the top rating for online sports betting for Connecticut bettors.
New players will be eligible for a special 50% match bonus up to $1000 on your first deposit. You will also find plenty of seasonal promotions and reload bonuses offered to returning players.
Best Online Sports Betting Sites For CT Residents In 2024
| Rank | Name | Bonus | Rating | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.9/5 | Play Now |
| 2 | Bookmaker | 100% Max $500 | 4.7/5 | Play Now |
| 3 | Betonline Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.3/5 | Play Now |
| 4 | SB Sportsbook | 50% Max $1,000 | 4.1/5 | Play Now |
Is it Legal To Bet on Sports in Connecticut?
State Gambling Laws
Starting with state laws, there are currently state licensed opportunities to bet on horses online, and there are free online poker options as well. The state is also currently in discussions concerning the addition of casino games and real money poker to their online gambling offerings.
Despite their warm embrace of the online gambling initiative, the state of CT must adhere to federal laws which ban US based sports betting both online and offline, with the exception of a few select destinations that are exempt from the ban.
Federal Sports Betting Regulations
The federal laws which prohibit US states from providing these types of services include the Federal Wire Act and PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992).
These federal laws however do not stop Connecticut sports bettors from engaging in legally licensed and certified sportsbook wagering that is based and regulated in jurisdictions located outside of the United States. This means that it is not illegal for US sports wagering participants to enjoy responsible sports betting at these types of legitimate offshore sportsbooks.
What Sports Teams are Located in Connecticut?
Connecticut is not known for prominent sports teams from their state. As far as professional teams go, there are the New England Seawolves, which participate in the AFL professional league.
There are also two prominent collegiate sports programs: Connecticut Huskies which represent the University of Connecticut. In fact, the head football coach has been in the news pretty recently for his committed efforts to garner fan support for Huskies football team after three losing seasons has put a hurt on team spirit among students and fans.
Lastly we have the Yale Bulldogs, representing Yale University in New Haven.
We now have a season football preview for the Huskies, so sports betting fans can get an inside look at the team, players and predictions.
What is the Legal Gambling Age in Connecticut?
In order to participate in the lottery, pari-mutuel wagering, bingo or charitable gambling players must be at least 18 years of age. To participate at brick and mortar casinos and poker, players must be at least 21 years of age. Violation of the state's set minimum gambling age is punishable by law. Most of the online sportsbooks accept players 18 and up, but we recommend that bettors follow state law, which requires bettors to be 21 aside from the listed exceptions.
Because state or US based sports betting is not legal in Connecticut, a specific gambling age for sportsbook wagering is not addressed. It is assumed that 21 is the minimum acceptable age for participating in any type of offshore online betting.
Are There Bonuses and Promotions at Online Sportsbooks Accepting Connecticut Players?
The reputable and trusted online sports betting sites that we recommend in this guide all offer new customer bonuses, seasonal promotions, and several offer reload bonuses as well. The majority of bonus offers at online gambling sites are structured as deposit match bonuses. In this type of offer, the gambling site agrees to match a certain percentage of designated deposits.
For example, a bonus offer that reads 100% up to $1000 means that the gambling site, sportsbooks in our case, would match 100% of your deposit up to and not exceeding $1000. This is just an example. The actual offers will vary by brand.
Is It Safe To Bet At Sportsbooks That Are Licensed Outside of the United States?
As long as you limit your activity to those virtual destinations which are recommended by professionals after having been vetted and approved, then yes, it is perfectly safe to engage in responsible sports betting activity. Should you venture off on your own to brands which are not endorsed or reviewed by the experts, then you are running the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft, fraud or other cyber crimes.
Our review process includes verifying a brand's legitimacy, which means documenting their licensing, certifications and regulatory oversight. It also includes an evaluation of their security profile to ensure the site is dedicated to protecting customer data and financial transactions.
All sportsbooks recommended in this guide have been vetted by professionals and approved as high quality, legitimate online sportsbooks that are licensed to provide their services to bettors and sports fans in the state of Connecticut.
Betting Trends with Teams in Connecticut
The UConn Huskies
Tucked away in the northeastern United States is the state of Connecticut. Other than some history, the state doesn't offer much in terms of sports, but they do have a collegiate program that's one of the best in the nation. The Connecticut Huskies, playing out of the University of Connecticut (UConn), are one of the best basketball programs in the NCAA, and not only for the men's team but also the women's team.
You have to understand that the University of Connecticut does well in basketball for two main reasons. First and foremost, they're the only major collegiate program in the northeastern region. There's not another school within 500 miles that can siphon the talent from the area. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Connecticut has a history of winning. If you're a young basketball player from the northeast, you probably dream of playing with the Huskies and cutting down the net after winning the Final Four.
While this dream has been realized far more by the Lady Huskies, the men are only two years removed from their own championship. And the betting trends are great for people who like to place money on games.
Men's Huskies
In Kevin Ollie's first year as the Huskies' head coach, he led the team to a record of 26-8. That's not exactly up there with the big powerhouse teams, but it was more than enough for a 7-seed in the tournament. They ended up winning it all that year, becoming National Champions in college. Unfortunately, the Huskies didn't even quality for the tournament last year. They were well under 50% in ATS, home and away, and every other major statistical category. They had a very bad year.
Will it be different next season? Most experts see that Connecticut has gotten better on the boards and on defense. These improvements, with notable freshmen and late signees, will up the school's odds of again making a run in March Madness. Look for the Huskies to be a more solid bet this year.
Women's Huskies
The Lady Huskies are a force to be reckoned with and are considered one of the greatest sports dynasties in history, America or around the world. Last season, the Huskies won their third straight National Title, and their 9th of the 2000s. They won in 2000, '02, '03, '04, '09, '10, '13, '14 and '15. They cover in excess of 80% as favorites.
They haven't been an underdog in a game in years. They dominate at home, seemingly never losing, and their road record is almost as impressive. It might not be as popular a sport, but if you're looking for a sure thing in betting, just wait until the Lady Huskies are playing. Bet on them to cover, to win, or even to win their conference, and you will not be disappointed. This trend isn't stopping in the near future.