Online Sportsbooks That Accept Connecticut Residents
The entire U.S. is going through an online sports betting boom as more and more people want to make money by betting on their favorite sports and teams. In Connecticut, and other states around the U.S., sports betting is mired in controversy and the legality of these online sportsbooks is hotly debated. With so much info flying in both directions it gets confusing for Connecticut players caught in the middle. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a place to get all of the right information in plain language in one fell swoop, and while some may be able to look up state laws and understand them, many won’t be able to find the laws or understand the dense legalese throughout the laws.
That is where this guide to sports betting in Connecticut comes in. It serves as a repository for the most current information about sports betting sites and will hopefully guide a few Connecticut residents who are lost in the sea of search results towards a good site for sports wagering. This article will not only review the legality of online sportsbooks that accept Connecticut players, but it will also mention the best sites for sports betting. Finally, answers to many of your most asked questions are answered in an effort to preemptively inform you of what confused other users.
How The Supreme Court Ruling On PASPA Affects Connecticut Online Sportsbooks
On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) by a vote of 6-3 (with one "dissenting" judge, Stephen Breyer, effectively abstaining). PASPA previously barred all states except Nevada from being able to offer legal sports betting to their residents, but now sports betting is opened up for any state to employ as they see fit. How the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA affects Connecticut online sportsbooks (like Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, etc.) remains to be seen, but - as the state is currently assembling its own sports betting legislation (HB 5307, SB 540) - you can legally use these familiar sites safely and securely. After all, it will be several months before CT has its own Internet-based, mobile sports betting services rolled out, so your favorite online sportsbooks are still going to be your go-to hotspots for athletics wagering for now.
Other Connecticut Gambling Sites: Online Casinos - Online Poker
The legality of these online sportsbooks is currently in a very interesting position that is due to both how state and federal laws are written and carried out as well as to the location of these sites. First off it is important to note that not just any old sportsbook is going to be legal in Connecticut. In fact due to U.S. and state law, no sportsbook can offer betting services to Connecticut residents and be located within the country’s borders.
The reason online sportsbooks are able to thrive despite this is that they are not located in the U.S., they are always licensed in a foreign country that allows sports betting. This means that they are beyond U.S. jurisdiction, but what about the bettors that are very much within U.S. jurisdiction? Federal law does not delineate any punishments for actual bettors however Connecticut does. Even though sports betting is illegal though Connecticut authorities do not usually press these charges unless someone is caught betting in an illegal betting ring, to date no one has been charged for betting online.
More Help: Gambling Laws In Connecticut
Best Connecticut Online Sportsbooks
For those ready to get started, the following Connecticut online sportsbooks are currently the top sites in the U.S. and will provide not only a safe environment for bettors but will also give bettors some of the best options in the way of odds, wager types, and sports. These sites are many times not only used across the U.S. but also cited by major sports authorities like CBS and CNBC for odds on games.
There are good sites, then there is Bovada, a site that is on a whole other level from many of the sites on the web. They have been around for more than 20 years, already making them one of the oldest sites on the web, but on top of that they were also one of the first sites to offer a high quality deposit bonus that really started bringing bettors in.
Their famous deposit bonus can still be taken advantage of today as it is the flagship of their promotions and the main way in which they convince Connecticut residents that this is the site for them. Giving new bettors 50% of their initial deposit back, up to $250 dollars is nothing to sneeze at, in fact they have one of the highest match percentages on the web even 20 years later. There is a reason that Bovada is still relevant and dominant and any new bettor will quickly find out why.
When SportsBetting was first founded about a decade ago they decided that their name would not only say exactly what their site was about, it would also reflect their approach to offering a high quality sportsbook. With SportsBetting, both the sports and the betting receive equal attention making this a great site for casual and hardcore bettors.
When it comes to sports SportsBetting delivers in spade, offering nearly twenty different sports to bet on, with each having different leagues to bet on as well. This diversity means that there is a sport to bet on at all times of the year. The betting half of SportsBetting is represented by their great odds. They go to great lengths to ensure that they bring odds to their bettors quicker and more accurately than any other site in the U.S. With their odds being cited by ESPN itself, SportsBetting has more than succeeded in offering the best odds on the net.
5Dimes is a bit of a novelty as it isn’t one of the most widely advertised sites and it certainly isn’t the most well-known of the major sites in the U.S. however it is still gaining members and is still considered to be one of the best Connecticut sports betting sites available. Many speculate that their secret is the ability to appeal to both new and veteran bettors alike.
They start off by offering a sizable welcome bonus of up to $520 dollars to help entice wary new bettors to try their site. It works different than most sites with the first $400 dollars being matched at half value, then any amount above $400 is matched for 20%, adding up to a total of $520 dollars total. After the new bettors learn more about the game they stay because of the reduced juice that 5Dimes offers so often. Essentially reduced juice takes less money off each bet meaning that extra $520 dollar bonus goes a lot further with 5Dimes.
| Online Sportsbooks | Bonuses | Top Sports To Wager | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Match To $250 | NFL, College Football | VISIT |
| BetOnline Sportsbook | 25% To $2,500 | NFL, MLB, MMA, NHL | VISIT |
| SportsBetting Sportsbook | 25% To $1,000 Match | NFL, College Basketball | VISIT |
| 5Dimes Sportsbook | 50% To $520 Match | College Sports, NBA, MLB | VISIT |
| DSI Sportsbook | 20% To $500 Match | NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL | VISIT |
| BookMaker Sportsbook | 15% Cash Bonus Up To $600 | NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL | VISIT |
Q: What exactly does Connecticut law say about sports bettors?
A: Connecticut law at most mentions penalties for professional gamblers. While this may seem like it would apply to anyone hoping to make money off of sports betting, the actual definition is much narrower. Connecticut state law specifies that someone is guilty of being a professional gambler if they entice others to bet and stand to make a profit off of them. Or, they have a higher chance of winning than other people gambling or betting with them. Essentially this means casual sports bettors are fine, it is only bookmakers or owners of gambling rings that are at risk.
Q: Do these sites accept credit cards?
A: While it certainly isn't universal, most sites will accept some form of credit card. The important thing to note with credit cards is making sure that the site accepts a specific card and also ensuring that online and international transactions can be done on the card. If the card can't do even one of these kinds of purchases it will not work for online sports betting.
Q: Where are these sites located?
A: Every site is located in a different area and licensed by a different company. It all depends on where the owners of the site decided would fit their needs best and what license would provide them with the freedoms they needed to operate their site. Typically these sites end up in Canada, Panama, or the Netherlands.
Q: How do I register with these online sportsbooks?
A: In order to register with any of the gambling sites for Connecticut residents, visitors need to click on the register button up near right corner of the page. There, residents of Connecticut will need to fill in information about themselves that will help the site verify their information, mail payouts, and just general contact about promotions or issues. Then the user will often need to verify their e-mail and after this final step are ready to deposit.
Q: Will my information be safe on these sites?
A: All sports betting sites take privacy very seriously. A reputable site will never be caught selling or leaking client information to any source and once information is submitted it is kept safe on their databases which are heavily secured. Most sites don't save credit card information to avoid any possible thefts of said information.
Bet On Connecticut Sports
