Mohegan Sun Eyes PokerStars as Potential Online Poker Partner in Connecticut

As Connecticut’s regulated online gambling market launch nears, the Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE), the parent company of the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville has put together a new digital gaming division in preparation for the launch.
Mohegan Digital will oversee the company’s iGaming operations across multiple states. For now, it is mainly focused on the Connecticut  market. Mohegan’s new online gambling arm is headed by Rich Roberts. He was appointed president of Mohegan Digital in late June.
Roberts recently shared their online gaming plans for the Connecticut market. These plans include partnering with FanDuel to offer retail and online casino, sports betting, as well as daily fantasy sports. Roberts also hinted at a potential partnership with PokerStars to bring online poker into the state, as FanDuel doesn’t have an existing poker app yet. Both FanDuel and PokerStars are owned and operated by Flutter Entertainment.
Mohegan Sun Will Likely Partner With PokerStars
Roberts revealed that they are currently focusing on launching their online casino and sports betting operations in Connecticut, but this doesn’t mean online poker will be forgotten. He also said they are looking at PokerStars as a potential partner, considering its existing link with the Mohegan Tribe.
PokerStars is currently active in three US states – New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. For its NJ operations, PokerStars’ land-based partner is the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, which is also owned by the Mohegan Tribe.
This means PokerStars could potentially become the first online poker site to launch in Connecticut. Once it goes live in the state, the operator is expected to host a CT edition of its popular Championship of Online Poker tournament series, though guarantees would be comparatively lower than PokerStars’ other US markets.
The possibilities are even stronger now after the Department of Justice decided not to appeal the latest ruling in relation to the Wire Act case, a move that has effectively removed the biggest challenge to legal interstate compacts.
CT Expected To Participate in Interstate Deals
Connecticut houses a small population of just 3.6 million, among the smallest in the US. Given the relatively small market size, it would be difficult for online poker operators to really take off in CT. But market size would no longer be an issue for operators as soon as interstate agreements become a reality.
Smaller states like CT will be able to join the existing Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) currently in effect between New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware, or participate in other interstate deals. Roberts said they’re actually following these developments.
Mohegan To Prioritize Sports Betting & iGaming
MGE signed a market access partnership deal with FanDuel earlier this month, which will allow the latter to offer sports betting, online casino, and daily fantasy sports to Connecticut players using Mohegan’s license.
Under the partnership, local bettors will be able to enjoy FanDuel’s top-notch and innovative sports betting and iGaming services.
The agreement also includes online casino branding from either FanDuel or Mohegan Sun, the full details of which are still unclear at the moment.
FanDuel will establish a temporary retail sportsbook this fall inside the Mohegan Sun casino before opening a permanent facility over the winter. Roberts said it’s going to be an “exceptional experience” for both parties.
Mashantucket Tribe Inks Deal With DraftKings
Meanwhile, the other tribe operating in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns the Foxwoods Resort casino in Ledyard, has partnered with DraftKings to run online and retail sportsbooks in the state.
The tribe has yet to unveil plans for offering online poker in CT. This means the other major online poker operators, such as WSOP.com, 888poker, and the partypoker US network which includes Bet MGM and Borgata could still vie for a deal with DraftKings/Mashantucket to establish their operations in the Nutmeg State.
Online gambling became legal in Connecticut on May 27 after Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 6451 into law.