Connecticut Lottery Archives

Connecticut lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that aims to tighten control over online gambling by banning sweepstakes casinos and lottery courier services. Senate Bill 1235 has passed several key committees and now heads to the full Senate for a vote ahead of the June 4 legislative deadline. Good to know SB 1235 would make operating a sweepstakes casino or lottery courier in Connecticut a Class D felony. The bill seeks to protect the state’s licensed iGaming revenue and expand legal betting options. It would also open the door for Connecticut to join interstate gaming agreements. Filed in February, SB 1235 is designed to eliminate gambling platforms that operate outside state control. These include sweepstakes casinos that use dual-currency systems—offering virtual tokens that can be exchanged for cash—and third-party services that buy and deliver lottery tickets for players. If passed, the bill would classify these activities as illegal and impose penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The bill has already cleared the General Law Committee (22-0) and the Judiciary Committee (37-0), and recently advanced through the Legislative Commissioner’s Office. The next step is a full Senate vote. One of the main goals behind the bill is to safeguard Connecticut’s legal online gambling market. Since launching regulated online casinos in 2021, the state has partnered exclusively with FanDuel and DraftKings through agreements with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. In Q1 2025, the two operators reported a combined $375 million in revenue. In 2024, the state collected $60 million in internet gambling taxes. Lawmakers are concerned that gray-market platforms and ticket couriers undercut the state’s licensed revenue streams and avoid paying taxes. By banning these services outright, SB 1235 seeks to level the playing field for operators who follow the rules. Besides shutting down unregulated platforms, the bill includes several proposals to broaden the scope of legal gambling in Connecticut. One item under consideration would allow bets on college games involving Connecticut teams—but only when those games do not include Connecticut-based schools. Right now, such bets are prohibited. Combat sports betting also receives attention. While betting on MMA and boxing is already in place, SB 1235 would formalize rules around these events and grant regulators power to suspend betting if operators break the law. Another provision would allow the state to enter into multi-state gaming compacts. If approved, Connecticut could link with other jurisdictions like Michigan, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, potentially expanding the player pool for online games and tournaments. With the legislative session ending June 4, lawmakers will need to act quickly if they want SB 1235 to become law.

Connecticut Lottery

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