Connecticut Governor Malloy Signs Legalized Sports Betting Bill
Connecticut became the latest state ready to offer legal sports betting if the federal US Supreme Court decides in favor of a New Jersey appeals case. Gov. Danell Malloy signed a bill into law this week with steps to allow the state to move forward on sports betting regulation. The possibility that Connecticut could soon offer sports gambling is contingent upon the US Supreme Court favoring the New Jersey sports betting case.
Malloy signed a piece of legislation this week — Bill H 6948 — that features a sports betting provision. The state legislature passed the bill in early June. The bill was part of a larger gaming package that included authorization of a new casino in the state. The bill with sports betting attached also increases off-track betting sites for horse racing.
The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to regulate wagering on sporting events to the extent permitted by state and federal law.
The sports betting provision was added before the council consensus agreed that NJ might have a real chance to win their Supreme Court appeal case. Earlier this year, Mississippi enacted a law that repeals its prohibition on sports betting if new federal law changes allows states to pass their own legislation on legalized sports betting.
If the Supreme Court strikes down the federal law banning sports betting outside of Nevada, watch for other states to enact and pass similar laws regulating a legal sports betting platform. Congress is another way for a federal law to allow sports betting outside of Nevada. Congress would have to repeal or amend PASPA, which is highly unlikely.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act known as PASPA is the federal law passed by Congress in 1992. New Jersey is appealing the law and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case in October which is a bright spot for New Jersey legislators.
The state would need to repeal its current prohibition on sports betting and the Department of Consumer Protection would have to adapt regulations as described in the law above.
“DCP is tasked with adopting regulations to regulate wagering on sporting events to the extent permitted by state and federal law,” according to a spokesperson for the DCP. “The Department is also aware of the New Jersey case that the U.S. Supreme Court is taking up and will continue to monitor federal activity surrounding sports betting.”
A report from the Hartford Courant indicated online sports betting could be included, although it is to early to say if that is a legitimate possibility. The DCP had no comment on whether that possibility was part of the discussion.
Connecticut is being proactive on legalized sports betting, joining New Jersey and Mississippi as states ready to move forward if NJ wins its case. States would be smart to get ready for a new world where sports betting can be legalized at the state level, if a state wants to have legal wagering. In regions like the Northeast, where there are no shortages of regional casinos, the options to install a Las Vegas type of sportsbook is a big advantage for those casinos to increase revenue and customers.
Connecticut could be one of the first states to join New Jersey with legal sports betting if public opinion and an effective marketing combination captures the media airwaves in that densely populated metropolitan area. New Jersey and its Atlantic City casino industry need this badly to revitalize its gaming industry and collect more sorely needed revenue around the state.
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