NFL Week 3 is now the last week of the season that football fans in Connecticut couldn’t wager on. DraftKings Sportsbook Connecticut is set to open the doors of its temporary brick-and-mortar location on Thursday, Sept. 30.
Connecticut residents and visitors will have the chance to bet on this weekend’s NFL games and so much more.
DraftKings Sportsbook Connecticut ready to welcome bettors
On Wednesday, DraftKings and Foxwoods Casino announced their plans to start taking bets. However, the press release does not list what time the sportsbook will open on Thursday or if there will be any fanfare surrounding the grand opening.
There are two things for hopeful bettors to remember about this news. First, it doesn’t include DraftKings’ online sportsbook app or website.
DraftKings and the Mashantucket Pequot still have yet to announce an exact date for the online product, though the state is targeting early October for the launch of online sports betting.
The other thing to note is that the current location, the Ultimate Race Book in Rainmaker Casino, is not where DraftKings will live on the casino grounds long-term.
Renovations on the permanent space are ongoing and the opening date for the permanent sportsbook will be announced soon.
There will be betting kiosks throughout the casino as well. The release is mum about exactly where and how many will be in service, though.
Although this launch might have missed the start of the NFL season, Sunday still has relevance for football fans in the state.
Tom returns to New England
On Sunday night, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will make his first appearance at Gillette Stadium as a member of a visiting team. DraftKings is sure to have some special betting markets and promos available for that game.
Currently, the Buccaneers are favored and sit at -7 at DraftKings Sportsbook. The total for the game is currently at 49 points.
For fans that want to wager on Tom’s return to New England, all it takes is a trip to Foxwoods.
While DraftKings’ brick-and-mortar component will take the first bets in CT, it won’t be the only option in the state for much longer. In fact, it could only be a mere few days before more options go online.
When will other retail and online sportsbooks start taking bets?
Right now, the target date for launching CT sports betting apps is Thursday, Oct. 7.
However, that’s still just a target date. None of the relevant parties in control have announced that they will officially start accepting wagers then.
When the full contingent becomes available, CT residents will have as many as three sportsbook options.
Besides DraftKings, the Mohegan Tribe has partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook and the Connecticut Lottery is working in tandem with PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook.
FanDuel is also working to prepare a temporary retail location at the Mohegan Sun Casino. There is no official opening date for that sportsbook yet.
The Lottery is currently considering sites for up to 15 brick-and-mortar sports betting locations that the law affords it as well.
The sports betting landscape is changing quickly in Connecticut.