Lawmakers in Connecticut are working to legalize in-state sports betting on CT college teams. The proposal, reintroduced by Rep. Tony Scott, would allow people in the state to wager on teams such as UConn and Yale.
Currently, gamblers in Connecticut cannot bet on in-state college teams, except for postseason play. Should the bill pass, which currently sits in the General Assembly’s Law Committee, this type of wagering would become widely accessible, which proponents argue would help regulate the activity.
“I hear from a lot of friends and constituents who want to be able to bet on their sports, especially UConn,” Rep. Scott said, as per WFSB. “There’s no question that bringing this out from the underground is actually a benefit.”
Under the current regulatory framework, many Connecticut residents are forced to drive to Massachusetts to place UConn bets, Fanatics Sportsbook management said in the report. According to the brand, allowing in-state sports betting would be a “huge deal” for the regulated sector, driving additional revenue.
“We would make so much more money as far as the lottery goes. Even on the restaurant side, it would be a bigger deal because then they wouldn’t have to go so many places to play the way they want and gamble the way they want,” Kristina Rodriguez, Fanatics Sportsbook manager, told WFSB.
Rep. Scott’s bill to allow in-state college wagering was originally introduced in 2024. However, at the time, several lawmakers and schools opposed the measure on the grounds that it would add pressure and pose a risk to the safety of student-athletes.
Moreover, many have expressed concerns surrounding potential match-fixing as a result of the betting expansion, although Rep. Scott has shot these fears down, citing the large number of states that already regulate in-state college sports wagering.
“There’re 39 states that allow sports gambling, 23 out of the 39 allow for them to bet in-state colleges and universities,” he said. “It’s been happening for a while. We have not heard any of those incidents of point shaving or game fixing, anything like that happens.”
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/01/27/93167-connecticut-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-authorize-betting-on-instate-college-teams
