Calls and communications through online chats with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling have increased an average of nearly 150% since October. He also pushed for sports betting as a way to compete with other states for revenue.Īs gambling has expanded, so have bettors who struggle with addiction and financial problems. Ned Lamont, whose administration negotiated the gambling expansion last year with the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots, had said he wanted to update Connecticut’s gambling rules that previously did not permit online access. “This is everything we discussed why we needed that,” he said. Connecticut also has collected $80.5 million as its share of casino slot revenue this year.ĭiversifying revenue was a key argument in the battle to bring gambling and sports betting to laptops, phones and tablets, Butler said. The state has a stake in casino revenue, claiming more than $30 million in tax revenue from October through May for online gambling, sports betting and retail sports betting run by the Lottery. Gamblers have to make a “relatively significant commitment” to go to a casino, but anecdotal evidence points to gamblers going online “to pick myself up,” Sacco said. A casino worker cleans sports betting kiosks at Mohegan Sun prior to a ceremony marking opening day for sports betting in Connecticut on Sept.
