Online lottery and sports betting bills progress in Connecticut

Progress in legalised online lottery activity and sports betting is reported from Connecticut this week, where a joint sitting of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee advanced bill SB 540 Thursday on a vote of 28 vs.15.

The bill is described in Legislature documentation as:

“To authorize sports wagering in the state to the extent permitted under federal law and to authorize the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to offer lottery draw games through the corporation’s Internet web site.

Part of the descriptive text reads:

“(1) “Gaming entity” means a casino gaming facility in the state, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation established pursuant to section 12-802 of the general statutes, a race track in the state at which racing events are licensed to be conducted, a fronton in the state at which the game of jai alai is licensed to be played, an off-track betting facility in the state operated by the Department of Consumer Protection or by a licensee authorized to operate the off-track betting system or any other individual, entity or facility residing or located in the state and licensed by the department to offer wagering;

“(2) “Interactive sports wagering platform” or “platform” means an individual or entity that offers sports wagering over the Internet, including through an Internet web site or a mobile device, on behalf of a gaming entity.”

The full text of the bill can be accessed here