The payout comes after the DCP investigated DraftKings for misleading marketing practices by offering deposit match bonuses without fully disclosing the requirements.

The affected 7,000 users participated in the bonus offers between October 19, 2021, and January 4, 2023. They won’t need to take any action to claim their refunds, as DraftKings will automatically notify them within 60 days. In addition to the refunds, the operator has agreed to:

• Pay $50,000 to support programs for consumer complaint resolution, protection, and education.
• Provide annual training on Connecticut’s relevant laws to all marketing and advertising staff in the state.
• Enhance the visibility of its educational hub and game tutorials for bonus promotions.
• Warn consumers about potential scams posing as refund notices, urging them to verify communications through the DCP.

In a press release, DCP Gaming Division Director Kris Gilman highlighted that all operators must clearly communicate the terms of promotions and added,

“We are happy that DraftKings has agreed to assess its promotions, provide additional training to its employees regarding Connecticut’s laws and regulations, and return funds to consumers who misunderstood and in many cases were completely unaware of the terms of the promotions they participated in.”

Second Consumer Repayment in a Year for DraftKings in CT

While not technically a fine, the $3 million refund is the second case for DraftKings in Connecticut, where the operator had to repay consumers.

Last summer, the DCP fined DraftKings $19,500 for operating a slot game that didn’t pay as advertised. According to the regulator, 522 people from the state wagered nearly $24,000 on over 20,659 spins on the Deal or No Deal Banker’s Bonanza slot by White Hat Gaming without receiving a win.

The game has a 95% advertised return to player (RTP). This means that, on average, it pays back 95% of the money wagered.

Neither DraftKings nor White Hat notified DCP for over a week after players brought up the issue. At the same time, the operator refunded $23,909 to those affected.

White Hat fixed the glitch, but only after the regulator responded to consumer complaints. As a result, the content provider was fined $3,500.

DraftKings Faces Multiple Lawsuits Over Misleading Advertising

The DCP investigation into misleading advertising is not the first time DraftKings has faced scrutiny over deceptive advertising.
The operator is currently facing a series of lawsuits accusing it of deceptive “risk-free” and “bonus bet” promotions.

A New York class-action lawsuit argues that DraftKings’ “risk-free” and deposit-match bonuses mislead bettors because instead of cash, it refunds losses in restricted bonus bets. In turn, this forces players to wager under unclear conditions.

A similar case in Pennsylvania challenges the transparency of DraftKings promotions, such as the “risk-free”, “no sweat” (“no sweat” replaced “risk-free” language due to various lawsuits), and deposit matches.

That lawsuit argues that these promotions have complex playthrough requirements that force players into costly wagering.

Meanwhile, the city of Baltimore filed a consumer protection suit against DraftKings and FanDuel. It accuses the platforms of using data-driven mechanisms to hook and monetize vulnerable and problem gamblers.

Caesars Palace Sued Over Deposit Match Bonuses in PA

Beyond DraftKings, similar marketing concerns have emerged with other operators, including Caesars Palace Online Casino in Pennsylvania.

In June, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) filed a lawsuit against the mobile platform and its retail partner, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino. PHAI argues that the defendants’ welcome bonus is “dangerous, misleading, and illegal.”

According to PHAI, Caesars Palace promises new customers a deposit match bonus of up to $2,500. However, to receive this amount while playing blackjack, they would need to wager $375,000.

PHAI claims the public is not told that the promotion is designed to “new customers in a ‘wild chase of action,’ where the bonus is unattainable and therefore impossible to win.”

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the promotion and similar playthrough bonuses. It also seeks statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.

The post DraftKings Agrees to Return $3M to Connecticut Players Over Misleading Marketing Practices appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Idaho, Michigan, and Washington have long been ineligible jurisdictions for sweepstakes casinos, but in the past few months, several others have moved towards prohibition.

Montana was the first to officially ban the platforms at the end of May. Connecticut and New York followed in June, while Nevada granted its gambling regulators more authority to prosecute operators from out-of-state, including sweepstakes casinos.

Elsewhere, Louisiana lawmakers also passed a ban, but Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed it, stating it was unnecessary. Since then, the state has sent a cease-and-desist order to 40 offshore and sweepstakes operators, with many now starting to comply.

Additionally, Maryland, Delaware, and Mississippi are among the states employing the same regulatory tactic, issuing cease-and-desist letters.

State-by-State Breakdown: Sweepstakes Casino Exits and Holdouts

So, which platforms have complied? CasinoBeats has examined the terms and conditions of a sample of well-established sweepstakes brands.

Research conducted by CasinoBeats was accurate at the time of publication.

The study explicitly analyzed the terms and conditions, and which states are mentioned expressly as prohibited. CasinoBeats can not confirm whether each operator is applying its terms and conditions, and is aware that several other sweepstakes casinos may be operational in each individual state.

Montana

Every single sweepstakes casino that we’ve checked has now listed Montana as an ineligible jurisdiction.

The only exception is Luckybird.io, which continues to welcome players from Montana.

New York

Sweepstakes casinos exit New York as early as March, when a Senate bill advanced through committees.

At the beginning of June, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office had shut down 26 platforms. That was followed by an official ban passed by the state legislature, pending Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.

With that said, the following sweepstakes casinos no longer operate in New York:

• Baba Casino
• Carnival Citi
• Casino Click
• Chanced and sister site Punt.com
• Chumba Casino and sister sites, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker
• DingDingDing
• Fliff and sister site Sidepots
• Fortune Coins and sister sites Zula Casino, Sportzino, and Yay Casino
• Fortune Wheelz and sister casinos Funrize, FunzCity, Fortune Wheelz, NoLimitCoins, and TaoFortune
• Funzpoints
• Golden Hearts Games
• High 5 Casino
• Jackpota and sister sites McLuck Casino, Hello Millions, Jackpota, Mega Bonanza, and SpinBlitz.
• Legendz Casino
• Lonestar Casino
• Modo.us
• Moonspin
• Play Fame
• Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo
• RealPrize
• Rebet
• Rolling Riches
• Smiles Casino
• Spree
• Stake.us
• SweepSlots
• Sweeptastic
• The Money Factory
• Vegas Gems
• WOW Vegas

Notably, Crown Coins, Luckybird.io, and Spinfinite still list New York as an eligible jurisdiction.

Connecticut

While the Louisiana governor vetoed the sweepstakes ban bill, Connecticut Gov. Joe Lombardo signed the ban on June 5, joining Montana.

Since then, most platforms have been exiting similarly to New York and Montana, with a few exceptions.

Platforms that still accept Connecticut players include: Crown Coins, Fortune Coins, Funzpoints, Spinfinite, Sportzino, The Money Factory, Yay Casino, and Zula Casino.

Meanwhile, Luckybird.io, which serves New York and Montana, does not accept players from Connecticut.

Nevada

Nevada took a different approach from explicitly banning the platforms.

Instead, it passed a bill that gives state regulators more power to target and prosecute out-of-state operators without Nevada licenses who are operating illegally in the state, including sweepstakes casinos.

That has resulted in almost all platforms exiting the state. CasinoBeats has found at least four operators that do not explicitly prohibit players from Nevada from registering.

Maryland

Earlier this year, the Maryland Senate passed a bill banning sweepstakes, but the measure died in the House. Still, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency has stepped up and targeted over a dozen platforms.

Some like VGW’s Chumba Casino have not complied, but others have. They include:

• Baba Casino
• Carnival Citi
• Casino Click
• McLuck Casino and sister sites Hello Millions, Mega Bonanza, Jackpota, and SpinBlitz
• Modo.us
• Play Fame
• Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo
• Rebet
• Rolling Riches
• Sidepot Casino
• Smiles Casino
• Spree
• Stake.us

Louisiana

The reason for the governor’s veto on the sweepstakes ban bill in Louisiana is that he believed state gambling regulators and authorities could force the platforms out without legislation.

Soon after his veto, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board announced that it had targeted 40 unlicensed offshore and sweepstakes casinos.

While the regulator didn’t release names, the following platforms have now exited the state:

• Baba Casino
• Carnival Citi
• Crown Coins
• Funzpoints
• High 5 Casino
• McLuck and sister sites Hello Millions, Mega Bonanza, Jackpota, and SpinBlitz
• Modo.us
• Moonspin
• Play Fame
• Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo
• Rebet
• Rolling Riches
• Sidepot Casino
• Spree
• The Money Factory
• WOW Vegas

Mississipi

The same day that the Louisiana Gaming Commission announced its action against sweepstakes casinos, the Mississippi Gaming Commission announced it had served several offshore casinos and Chumba Casino with cease-and-desist letters.

While Chumba has not complied, a few operators have chosen to leave:

• Baba Casino
• Carnival Citi
• Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo (certain promotions)
• Sidepot Casino

Delaware

The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement has been targeting sweepstakes casinos for over two years, albeit without much success initially.

In April, it announced it had served VGW’s LuckyLand Slots with a cease-and-desist order. Meanwhile, its sister site Chumba Casino was served almost two years ago. While it ignored the first order, VGW decided to withdraw from the state after receiving the April notice.

Sweepstakes platforms that no longer accept Delaware customers include:

• Baba Casino
• Carnival Citi
• Chanced and sister site Punt.com
• Chumba Casino and sister sites, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker
• Funrize and sister sites FunzCity, Fortune Wheelz, NoLimit Coins, and Tao Fortune
• Luckybird.io
• McLuck and sister sites Hello Millions, Mega Bonanza, Jackpota, and SpinBlitz
• Modo.us
• Moonspin
• Play Fame
• Rolling Riches
• Sidepot
• Smiles Casino
• Spree
• Stake.us

Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Others

In addition to the states above, many sweepstakes operators have chosen to exit other states. The most common ones are Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia:

• Baba Casino: Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia.
• Carnival Citi: Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia.
• Casino Click: Kentucky
• Chanced and sister site Punt.com: Kentucky, West Virginia, Washington, DC
• Fortune Coins, Sportzino Casino, Yay Casino, and Zula Casino: Georgia
• Funrize, NoLimitCoins, FunzCity, Fortune Wheelz, TaoFortune: Wyoming, West Virginia
• Legendz: Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia
• McLuck Casino and sister sites Hello Millions, Mega Bonanza, Jackpota, and SpinBlitz: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia
• Modo us: Arizona, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
• Moonspin: Georgia, Nebraska, and North Dakota.
• Play Fame: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, West Virginia
• Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo: Alabama, Tennessee, and West Virginia
• Rolling Riches: Hawaii, Kentucky, West Virginia
• Sidepot: Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia
• Smiles Casino: Kentucky
• Spinfinite: Alabama, Delaware, Tennessee
• Spree: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and West Virginia
• Stake.us: Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia.

The post Sweepstakes Casinos Exit Multiple States Amid Crackdowns in CT, LA, MD, NY, and NV appeared first on CasinoBeats.

On June 2, the Louisiana House passed Senate Bill 181 unanimously, following its passage in the Senate at the end of April.

Among its provisions, the bill classifies devices or platforms that use dual-currency payment systems as illegal. It calls for violation penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 and prison sentences of up to five years.

With the governor’s veto, sweepstakes casinos remain operational for now. However, legal action by the state’s authorities could change that.

Additionally, the Louisiana legislature has the authority to override the veto. Despite that, indications are that the chances of doing so are slim.

Governor Says Authorities Have Enough Power

In his June 12 veto letter, which The Closing Line published, Gov. Landry says:

“This bill attempts to criminalize certain secondary gambling activities on the internet that are already prohibited in Louisiana. Our current Louisiana Gaming Control Board has the regulatory authority, control, and jurisdiction over all aspects of gaming activities and operations pursuant to the Louisiana Gaming Control Law.”

The governor notes that the Board, the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division, and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office are all responsible for monitoring and regulating gaming in the state.

He adds that the state is already actively targeting illegal gambling, especially offshore and sweepstakes operators. Landry referenced successful cease-and-desist orders against offshore operators, demonstrating that the current system is capable of addressing the issue without the need for new legislation.

Landry goes on to say that the bill is too broad and can interfere with current enforcement actions. He writes, “For these reasons, Senate Bill 181 is not necessary.”

Louisiana Likely to Follow New York and Michigan’s Approach

Landry’s belief that state authorities can handle the issue of sweepstakes casinos aligns with successful enforcement actions seen in other states.

In early 2024, Michigan adopted a tough approach towards offshore and sweepstakes casinos. Following a series of cease-and-desist letters and legal threats from the Michigan Gaming Control Board, all sweepstakes casinos ceased operations in the state.

New York took a similar approach. Last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office had shut down 26 sweepstakes operators. With the addition of a dozen or so platforms that had already left the state, only a handful of operators remain. However, they are likely to follow suit.

Elsewhere, Maryland and Connecticut gambling regulators also aggressively pursued sweepstakes operators, although with mixed results.

Connecticut Governor Signs Sweeps Ban Bill

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division (DCP) has already proven successful in pursuing sweepstakes casinos.

Earlier this year, it suspended the content provider license of High 5 Games due to its connection to High 5 Casino. The two eventually settled, and High 5 Games paid a $1.5 million fine.

The regulator’s enforcement actions resulted in a handful of other operators exiting the state. That includes industry leader VGW’s Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker.

However, while DCP has been aggressive, it has not chased all platforms away. That will change, as Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1235 into law, making sweepstakes casinos illegal in the state.

This means that Connecticut will become the second state to ban the platforms. Montana became the first state to do so last month.

Meanwhile, Nevada is taking a different but complementary approach. On June 5, Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Senate Bill 256, which strengthens state regulators’ authority to pursue unlicensed and out-of-state operators.

The law doesn’t explicitly prohibit sweepstakes casinos. Still, the additional legal power of the state will likely result in most platforms exiting Nevada.

The post Louisiana Governor Vetoes Sweepstakes Casino Ban Bill, Says It’s Unnecessary appeared first on CasinoBeats.

High 5 Casino ceased operations in New Jersey in February. Despite that, the state’s loss-recovery statute allows individuals who have lost money or property from illegal gambling to seek recovery of their losses within six months.

US gaming law and sports betting lawyer Dan Wallach brought the lawsuit to light through a post on X. According to the post, J. Meyers Esq, a Denville, New Jersey law firm, brought the suit in the Bergen County Superior Court.

The law firm seeks to recover losses suffered through gambling by Mitchell Dallas from Kansas City, Missouri, Julian Bargo from Cliffside Park, New Jersey, and “John/Jane Does 1 through 100, an unknown number of individuals, residency unknown.”

The New Jersey lawsuit comes a few months after a Washington jury ordered High 5 to pay $24.9 million in damages to players in the state.

CT Suspended High 5 Games’ License, Could NJ Do the Same?

High 5 Entertainment is in a unique situation compared to other sweepstakes casino operators. The company serves as a content supplier for regulated retail and online casinos through High 5 Games. Some of the most popular games by High 5 Games include the DaVinci Diamonds slot series.

High 5’s unique situation landed the company in hot water in Connecticut. In March, the state’s Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division suspended the content supplier’s license as a result of the company operating an illegal gambling activity via High 5 Casino.

Shortly after, slots like DaVinci Diamonds Extreme, Beti the Yeti, Secrets of the Forest, and Dangerous Beauty disappeared from Connecticut casino libraries.

After the license suspension, High 5 Games committed to compliance and working with regulators. Subsequently, the company settled with the regulator for nearly $1.5 million at the end of May, and had its supplier license reinstated.

That sum included $643,000 in restitution to customers who lost money on High 5 Casino. Additionally, nearly $800,000 would be allocated towards consumer complaint resolution programs, education, protection, enforcement, and litigation.

Given that High 5 Games holds a supplier license in New Jersey as well, the state could follow Connecticut’s lead. Although the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has not taken an active role against sweepstakes platforms, mounting regulatory pressure is building.

An active bill to ban sweepstakes casinos, endorsed by the New Jersey Responsible Gaming Task Force, could lead to higher pressure on the sector, particularly on High 5 Games.

High 5 Casino Has Exited all iGaming States

Scrutiny of sweepstakes casinos has been building across the US. This year alone, lawmakers from a dozen states introduced legislation to ban the platforms. So far, only Montana has passed a ban. However, others, such as Louisiana, Nevada, and Connecticut, are just a governor’s signature away from a ban.

While it has faced issues in Connecticut and now New Jersey, High 5 Casino has been one of the most active platforms in terms of exiting states with potential bans or following regulators’ requests.

In February, the platform exited Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. What’s notable about these states is that they have all legalized real-money online casinos. High 5 Games holds a content license in each of them.

A month later, High 5 Casino was also among a large number of sweepstakes operators that exited New York in anticipation of a potential ban.

The post High 5 Entertainment Faces Class-Action Lawsuit in New Jersey over High 5 Casino appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The CDP summarily suspended High 5 Games’ service provider license in the state on March 14, 2025. After the cessation of its casino product, High5Casino, Connecticut regulators have reinstated High 5’s Online Gaming Service Provider license. 

Connecticut Consumers to Receive Restitution From High 5 Games

Effective May 2022, the company can continue to provide its slot games to licensed iGaming providers in the state of Connecticut. 

The settlement, valued at approximately $1.5 million, includes $643,000 in restitution to customers who lost money on High 5 Casino, as well as nearly $800,000, which will be allocated to consumer complaint resolution programs, education, protection, enforcement, and litigation. 

DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli celebrated the settlement, stating in a release: “We are pleased the Connecticut consumers who were lured into placing wagers on an unlicensed platform will be made whole, and that this company has ceased operations of its unlicensed casino in Connecticut.” 

The full settlement also outlines further remedial measures to be taken by High 5 Games. High 5 has agreed to “maintain its current level of geofencing, which is designed to block users physically located in Connecticut and users employing VPNs or proxies to mask their physical location from accessing the High 5 Casino platform.” 

The company has also agreed not to offer or reintroduce any gaming application offering sweepstakes games for users in Connecticut unless it obtains a consumer-facing iGaming license. 

Furthermore, High 5 Games has agreed not to license or supply its games to other sweepstakes casino operators in the state of Connecticut, unless the CDP acknowledges that the operation of such games does not violate law. 

DCP Gaming Division Director Kris Gilman commented: “We are satisfied with the outcome of this investigation, which has resulted in the return of funds to consumers who were harmed by the unfair marketing of an unlicensed sweepstakes casino.” 

He continued: “If you’re going to gamble, Connecticut is the best state to place a wager. We work hard to ensure fairness in our licensed market, and when violations do occur, we make every effort to make sure customers are made whole.” 

Montana Becomes the First to Outlaw Sweepstakes

Online sweepstakes casino continues to be in the firing line across the United States. Montana became the first state to sign into law an outright ban on sweepstakes casinos, effective October 1, 2025. 

Under Montana’s legislation, each violation is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or ten years behind bars. 

The ban attracted criticism from the Social and Promotional Games Association, which claimed: “Montana just criminalized everyday digital promotions with a law so broadly written it fails to name what it bans.” 

A Washington jury ordered High 5 Games to pay $24.9 million in damages in February after finding that the social casino business model violated Washington gambling regulations.

The post High 5 Games Settles in Connecticut Over Unlicensed Casino Operations appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Senate Bill 1235, which passed the state’s Judiciary Committee by a 37-0 vote last month, was reported favorably out of the Legislative Commissioners’ Office on Monday and now heads to the Senate. 

The Joint Committee on General Law unanimously approved the bill, 22-0.  

SB 1235 prohibits online sweepstakes casinos, lottery ticket resales, and ticket courier services.

The proposed legislation, recommended by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (CDCP), states that anyone caught operating an illegal gambling business is subject to a Class D felony. Those crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.   

Connecticut Regulators Seek Sweepstakes Ban to Safeguard Citizens

SB 1235 states that “No person shall conduct or promote a sweepstakes or a promotional drawing authorized by the provisions of section 53-278g that (1) is not related to the bona fide sale of goods, services or property, (2) uses a simulated gambling device, or (3) allows or facilitates participation in any real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering, unless such person is licensed under chapter 229b.”

Sweepstakes gaming allows customers to use free virtual currencies — usually coins or tokens — to play online casino games. Customers can then purchase more credits and exchange them for cash and prizes.

While such platforms are widely available, they tend to operate in a legal gray area. Because they are not regulated, sweepstakes casinos do not offer the same safeguards as traditional legal casinos.

States like Connecticut and New Jersey, which offer legal iGaming, have expressed concern about sweepstakes casinos taking in money that would otherwise be going to taxed and regulated operators.

States Mounting Push Against Sweepstakes Casinos

Several sweepstakes casino operators—including High 5 Casino, McLuck Casino, and NoLimit Coins—have recently left New York in response to a bill seeking to ban them.

SB 5935 threatens fines up to $100,000 and loss of licensing for anyone found guilty of supporting or facilitating online sweepstakes gaming in the Empire State.   

States that have pushed similar bans include Maryland, Mississippi, and New Jersey.

According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), $109 billion was bet on illegal and unregulated operators last year.

Courier Services Also Under Fire

The bill also calls for a restriction on courier services — third-party vendors that purchase lottery tickets on behalf of their patrons.  

Last week, the Texas Lottery Commission voted unanimously to ban them following two controversial lottery jackpots.  

The post Connecticut Bill to Ban Online Sweepstakes Casinos Heads to Senate appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Wilna van Wyk

The Connecticut General Law Committee has filed Senate Bill 1235, which would prohibit online sweepstakes casinos from operating in the state.

SB 1235 aims to prohibit lottery ticket resales and courier services and prevent sweepstake operators from offering actual or simulated online casino gaming and/or sports wagering. 

The Statement of Purpose of the bill reads as follows: 

1. Prohibit lottery ticket resales and ticket courier services.
2. Modify the Commissioner of Consumer Protection’s disciplinary authority concerning certain gaming licensees.
3. Require vendor and affiliate licensees to provide books and records.
4. Define and redefine certain terms concerning gaming.
5. Modify provisions concerning wagers on sporting events involving Connecticut intercollegiate teams.
6. Restrict who may review certain criminal history records checks.
7. Prohibit certain advertising.
8. Authorize certain bets and wagers on boxing and mixed martial arts.
9. Provide that certain persons conducting sweepstakes or promotional drawings shall not allow or facilitate participation in certain real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering.
10. Provide that any person who engages in professional gambling shall be guilty of a Class D felony.
11. Repeal a provision authorizing the commissioner to appoint a director to perform delegated functions.

A ticket courier service is defined earlier in the proposed legislation as a “for-profit delivery service operated for the purpose of (A) purchasing lottery tickets (i) for games authorized pursuant to this chapter, and (ii) on behalf of individuals located inside or outside of this state and (B) delivering or transmitting such lottery tickets, or electronic images thereof, to such individuals.” 

It also seeks to permit wagers on boxing and mixed martial arts contests, such as the UFC, as long as the wager does not violate new sweepstakes rules. 

SB 1235 also seeks to make punishments for professional gambling harsher. Professional gambling is defined, in existing Connecticut legislation, as “accepting or offering to accept, for profit, money, credits, deposits or other things of value risked in gambling” and goes on to give pool-selling, bookmaking, maintaining slot and one-ball machines as the first examples.

Existing law also prohibits pinball machines that award anything other than an immediate and unrecorded right of replay, roulette wheels, dice tables, and pushcards. It also captures any banking game played with cards, dice, counters, or “accepting any fixed share of the stakes therein.” 

Under the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of being a professional gambler would face a Class D felony. Typically, a Class D felony in Connecticut can carry up to five years imprisonment. 

Connecticut Continues Sweepstake Crusade

Last year, the Constitution State issued a cease and desist order to VGW, one of the world’s largest sweepstake operators. 

The letter stated “VGW is hereby ordered to immediately cease and desist offering its games and services to Connecticut customers.” 

It added: “Failure to comply may result in additional action including, but not limited to, civil penalties under CUTPA and/or criminal penalties under Conn. Gen. Stat 53-287b and 53-278d.” 

In October 2024, it was reported that VGW had updated its terms and conditions to include Connecticut on the limited list of states where it does not offer services. 

A cease-and-desist letter issued earlier in the year stated, “VGW is hereby ordered to immediately cease and desist offering its games and services to Connecticut customers.

“Failure to comply may result in additional action including, but not limited to, civil penalties under CUTPA and/or criminal penalties under Conn. Gen. Stat. 53-278b and 53-278d.”

Connecticut Legislature Is Choc-A-Bloc with Gambling

Six bills were recently introduced in Connecticut, mainly related to sports betting. The bills to be considered range from legalizing in-flight betting to creating a cap on hold for operators in the state. 

Proposed measures to enhance player protection are also more in line with the bill prohibiting those offering illegal sweepstake products. 

Written By

Wilna van Wyk

Wilna van Wyk is an online casino enthusiast with over a decade of experience working with some of the world’s biggest gambling affiliates, including Thunderstruck Media and OneTwenty Group. She specializes in gambling sites and games and provides expert knowledge on the online casino industry’s essential fundamentals.

The post Connecticut Moves to Ban Online Sweepstakes Casinos with SB 1235 appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Rep. Tony Scott has introduced five bills and is looking to usher in various changes to sports wagering. A breakdown of the bills is as follows:

HB 5663: The bill, titled “An Act concerning sports wagering on Connecticut Intercollegiate Teams,” proposes legalizing wagering on a sporting event in which one or more participants is a Connecticut intercollegiate team. Current legislation only permits wagering on CT teams when participating in tournaments. 

HB 5664: Dubbed “An Act establishing a maximum hold percentage for sports wagering,” the bill looks to cap the hold operators can generate on online sports wagering activity. The bill does not propose a number, but CT sportsbooks have generated a 10.4% hold of $5.6 billion handle.

Given that revenue is reported monthly, the bill does not provide information about whether the legislation would cap monthly hold or apply it over a more extended period. Hold tends to fluctuate depending on sporting results, impacting operator results, and HB 5664 is likely to face significant opposition from commercial entities. 

HB 5665: HB 5665 reads, “An Act establishing consumer opt-outs for sports wagering.” It seeks to require sports betting operators to allow customers to opt out of seeing specific sports, events, and types of wagers. 

HB 5778: Scott also proposes in HB 5778 that all sports offered by operators offer two-way markets. 

Increased player protection could be heading to CT

HB 5779: The last of Scott’s proposed changes offers player protection, similar to the palpable error rule commonly used in regulated European markets. It reads: “to provide that a sports wagering retailer shall, before the start of any sporting event for which such retailer accepts any sports wagering and discovers any error, (1) correct such error, (2) cancel any sports wagering impacted by such error, and (3) fully refund all patrons impacted by such error. 

The bills mentioned above have been referred to the Connecticut General Law Committee. 

Is Connecticut sports wagering set to soar? 

Rep. Christopher Rosario also introduced HB 6051, “An Act authorizing and providing for regulating in-flight sports wagering.” 

Rosario’s proposed legislation would authorize and regulate in-flight sports betting on flights scheduled to originate or end in Connecticut. It also suggests that one percent of all revenue generated by in-flight wagering would be allocated to CT’s public education in rural and urban school districts. 

Currently, gambling on commercial aircraft is not permitted on a federal level. 

The introduction of CT Bill HB 6051 comes soon after Delta Airlines announced a partnership with DraftKings, which will see the latter provide in-game entertainment through games. The airline has been careful to distance itself from saying it offers in-flight wagering, commenting in a press release, “While specific details on the agreement and the type of DraftKings offerings coming to Delta Sync will be shared when they’re finalized, the ability to gamble is not currently part of that exploration.” 

The post How 6 Proposed Bills Could Reshape Connecticut’s Online Sports Betting appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Through the integration, FanDuel Casino app customers in the two respective states will be able to play branded titles from White Hat Studios such as Peaky Blinders and The Goonies.

“White Hat Studios’ is an important component of our strategy to provide FanDuel Casino customers with a differentiated experience,” commented James Davison, Vice President at FanDuel Casino.

“By leveraging their broad array of branded titles across regulated markets — we are creating a more meaningful entertainment experience that drives brand loyalty.”

Connecticut and Pennsylvania aren’t the only two US states in which White Hat Studios and FanDuel Casino have a collaboration, as the two parties also have a similar content deal in Michigan.

Daniel Lechner, SVP of Sales & Marketing at White Hat Studios, added: “We are excited to expand our partnership with FanDuel by offering the best titles customers want in Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

“The launch of White Hat Studio into new markets highlights our determination to deliver top-tier content within every regulated igaming market on behalf of operator partners.”

White Hat Studios has been expanding across several US markets with a flurry of operators since the turn of the year, including BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment and Bally’s.

The post White Hat Studios expands into Connecticut & Pennsylvania with FanDuel Casino appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The extension will see the igaming solutions provider launch its proprietary content and remote games server technology with the operator in the Wolverine State and the Constitution State.

Games from Bragg Studios brands including Atomic Slot Lab, Indigo Magic and Spin Games, as well as selected Powered by Bragg titles from third-party developers will be made available to FanDuel through the partnership.

FanDuel customers in the two states will also be able to play titles from Bragg’s burgeoning portfolio, including partner studios such as Bluberi, Incredible Technologies, Galaxy Gaming, SegaSammy Creation and King Show Games in the coming months. 

“We are focused on increasing our North American presence by providing leading igaming operators with our newest engaging games which we expect will help deliver consistent, long-term growth,” stated Yaniv Sherman, CEO of Bragg Gaming Group.

“As such, the rollout of our new proprietary and third-party exclusive games and technology with FanDuel in Michigan and Connecticut is a significant proof point of the success of our new US content roadmap.”

Bragg and FanDuel are partnered across several jurisdictions in North America. The operator hosts the provider’s Spin Games content in New Jersey and Ontario, while FanDuel players in the Canadian province also gained access to Bragg Studios content in June.

“We are excited to expand on our existing relationship with FanDuel through this launch and look forward to serving their customers with premium content that helps them grow player engagement and retention,” Sherman added.

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