Connecticut officially became the seventh state to regulate online poker on May 28, 2021 after Governor Ned Lamont approved House Bill 6451 into law. The legislation was passed after an agreement was reached with two tribes that currently control the state’s casino gaming market.
As part of the deal, the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes will be granted exclusive rights to operate both online poker and casino gaming in CT. This means that local players will have access to two online poker sites, if both tribes eventually establish a link-up with online operators.
With interstate deals now a possibility after the DOJ decided not to appeal the latest Wire Act decision, the major sites, including PokerStars, WSOP.com, 888poker, and partypoker could be eyeing to grab a share of Connecticut’s online poker market.
Let’s take a look at each of the operators’ potential to launch in the Constitution State.
PokerStars
PokerStars made an official comeback in the US by first establishing its New Jersey operations in 2016. The operator has since expanded to Pennsylvania and Michigan, becoming the first online poker site to launch in both states.
CT houses a smaller market compared to other regulated states, but it will not have much significance especially if interstate agreements come into play.
Connecticut’s recently-passed gambling bill does not prohibit such deals, so PokerStars will most likely apply for a CT license to continue to grow its player base in the US. Should the operator decide to enter the state, its most likely partner would be the Mohegan Tribe. PokerStars is currently operating in New Jersey via a partnership with Resorts Casino, which is also operated by Mohegan.
WSOP.com
WSOP.com currently operates in New Jersey and Nevada, which are both part of a multi-state online poker agreement, alongside the state of Delaware. The operator is also set to launch in Pennsylvania and Michigan this year, and both markets could very well join the interstate deal.
WSOP.com’s expansion to CT will enable the site to achieve more growth in the US, and this remains a likely prospect.
888poker
888poker has been providing software support for WSOP.com sites for a long time now, via a strong partnership with Caesars Interactive Entertainment. 888poker already stated in earlier announcements that it’s prioritizing its partnership with Caesars and the WSOP.com, though the company is also committed to growing its own brand.
That being said, 888poker’s final decision on entering Connecticut would largely depend on WSOP.com. If the latter decides to apply for a CT license, it’s unlikely that 888poker will compete with its long-time partner.
BetMGM/partypoker
BetMGM/partypoker could also be eyeing to add CT to their US operations, especially with interstate deals likely to become a reality. The partypoker US Network, which also includes Borgata, is currently operating in three states: New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
The network could see CT as a viable market, though it will probably have a hard time establishing a partnership with either of the tribes, as it has no prior link or cooperation with them.
Overall, PokerStars has the edge in terms of quickly finding a land-based partner in Connecticut, as it already has an existing partnership with Mohegan’s Resorts Casino in NJ. This means that the site is well-positioned to be the first to go live in the state.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe could be looking for a suitable online poker partner, so the other operators might focus on convincing the tribe to partner with them.
As of now, it is not clear as to when Connecticut will finally launch its regulated online poker market. That will heavily rely on the entire licensing process.
By embracing expanded gambling, Connecticut is projected to benefit from $83 million in annual online gambling revenue by 2026. Governor Lamont said the approval of the bill was in the best interest of tribal gaming operators and players in the state as will provide a modern gaming experience for Connecticut, making the state well-positioned for future success.