Connecticut casino win, online wagering soft launch see positive numbers

The two southeastern Connecticut casinos posted their year-over-year stats report showing increases in slot machine revenue on Friday. Mohegan Sun reported it kept $43.4 million after paying out prizes last month, a 7.8% increase over the $40.2 million it saw in September 2020. Foxwoods Resort Casino got $31 million, up 12.1% in a year-over-year comparison. 

The casinos contributed 25% of their slot wins to the state, with Mohegan Tribe’s property giving $10.9 million and Foxwoods’ $7.8 million. 

Connecticut's Gov. Ned Lamont at the Mohegan Sun's ribbon-cutting ceremony of its in-person sportsbook.

Both casinos launched on-site sportsbooks on September 30, and are currently in the midst of a weeklong “soft” launch of online sports betting and casino gaming, which features online versions of most casino tables as well as slots. Online betting platforms have been confirmed to launch on October 19 by Gov. Ned Lamont on his official Twitter account. 

The full launch of online sports wagering and iCasino in Connecticut has been authorized to begin tomorrow at 6AM.

I thank the staff at @CTDCP for their efforts over the last several months to ensure that this can be done safely. We encourage everyone to enjoy these responsibly.

— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) October 18, 2021

The soft launch of online gambling on Tuesday on phones, tablets, computers and desktop formats had limited hours of operation and betting accounts. The average bet was $45 and wagering ranged between 10 cents and a little less than $1,800.

The state’s initial move into online gambling brought in more than $60,000 in bets the first two days and the new system, including financial transactions, worked well, according to Lottery officials. 

The Connecticut Lottery Corp. 's president and CEO Greg Smith told the lottery’s board on Thursday October 14 “we are seeing what we consider after a few days very normal activity and a good test of the system so far”. 

As the Lottery reported, bettors wagered on NCAA, NFL, Major League Baseball, preseason NHL, NBA, WNBA, golf, tennis and soccer which was described by Smith as the “predictable sports”. Data also shows that bets also were placed on Russian table tennis and UFC mixed martial arts competition. 

Robert Simmelkjaer II, chairman of the Lottery, also commented: “Accounts have been created, bets have been placed, deposits have been made all without any real drama.”

State officials limited gambling accounts each for 750 for the Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Connecticut Lottery Corp. Those whose requests got turned down are waiting to bet when full online gambling begins, which Simmelkjaer said will be Wednesday, October 20 “if all goes according to plan”.

Three gambling sites are expected soon in New Haven and at Bobby V’s Restaurant & Sports Bar. Seven more locations will be established by the end of October, according to Smith.