Connecticut Bill To Allow Betting On In-State Colleges, Tighten Advertising

Nov 11, 2023; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley talks with forward Jaylin Stewart (3), forward Alex Karaban (11), center Donovan Clingan (32) and guard Cam Spencer (12) from the sideline as they take on the Stonehill Skyhawks at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

• A new Connecticut sports betting bill will allow in-state college sports bets
• Prohibitions on college player prop bets will still remain
• The bill also places further restrictions on sports betting advertisements

If Connecticut residents wanted to place a bet on either of the UConn men or women’s successful college basketball seasons this past March they would have had to jump in their car and crossover state lines into either New York or Massachusetts.

Two Connecticut lawmakers are hoping to make the process for sports bettors much easier.

A recent Connecticut House File aims to lift the state’s prohibition on sports bets on in-state colleges, but also places further restrictions on sports betting advertisements in the Constitution State.

In-State Collegiate Sports Betting?

Rep. Tony J. Scott (R-112) and Rep. Travis Simms (D-140) introduced HF 271 to lift a prohibition disallowing betting on in-state colleges. State sports bettors were prohibited from placing bets on either the UConn men’s team, which won the NCAA College Basketball championship for the second year in a row, and the UConn women’s team that went to the Final Four in the women’s tournament.

According to the bill, it will “expand legal wagering on Connecticut college sports by allowing wagers on individual games involving Connecticut colleges (i.e., a Connecticut public university or college or independent higher education institution team, or a for-profit college or university team physically located in Connecticut that offers in-person classes within the state).”

The bill received a favorable report and 21-4 approval from the joint committee on public safety and security.

According to the bill’s fiscal estimate, the expanded sports betting offering in Connecticut will result in a revenue gain of between $200,000 and $1 million annually beginning in fiscal year 2025. It estimates a net increase in gross gaming revenue of between 1% and 5%.

Advertising Restrictions Included in House File

The House File also includes new restrictions on online and retail sports betting and online and retail casino games. The proposed law includes new restrictions requiring advertisements to visibly clarify that sports betting in the state is limited to those who are 21 and older and daily fantasy sports, keno, and the lottery are limited to those who are 18 and older in the state.

Advertisements must also not have images, celebrities, entertainer endorsements or language designed to appeal specifically to those under 21 for sports betting and those under 18 for keno, online lottery, or daily fantasy sports.

Finally, advertisements may not include inaccurate or misleading information that could be expected to confuse and mislead customers to engage them in gaming.

If approved, the restrictions would place Connecticut in line with neighboring Massachusetts in terms of prohibitions on gaming. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has imposed some of the most restrictive laws regarding sports betting in the country, most recently requiring all sports betting company logos visible in arenas and stadiums to include “21 and older” messaging.

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