Those in Connecticut of legal age going to watch the Connecticut Sun take on the Chicago Sky Thursday night have a new pre-game diversion. On Sept. 30, the temporary FanDuel Sportsbook Connecticut retail location at Mohegan Sun Casino will start taking bets.
It’s big news in the ongoing expansion of legal gambling in the state. Residents of the Nutmeg State should expect more announcements like this to come in rapid-fire succession over the coming days and weeks.
FanDuel Sportsbook Connecticut warming up Thursday
While the Sun start their gameday prep just yards away, the same will be happening at the Bow & Arrow Sports Bar Thursday morning.
At 9:30 a.m., FanDuel plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony to christen its four new betting windows.
A release from FanDuel says that it will feature celebrity guests, but does not identify who. The bar is just about a five-minute walk from Mohegan Sun Arena, where the Sun play their home games.
Those attending the game that also want to place a bet just have to walk across the street to the new sportsbook.
Of course, that won’t be the only thing bettors will be able to stake wagers on. It also won’t be the only place. FanDuel says there will be 50 self-service betting kiosks distributed throughout the gaming area.
Bettors should note that to place wagers tomorrow, they do have to visit the casino. This launch only includes in-person wagering.
FanDuel and the Mohegan Tribe have not yet announced when the online sportsbook will be available for use in the state.
The Bow & Arrow will also not be the permanent home of the retail sportsbook. Renovations are ongoing elsewhere on the casino grounds toward that end.
FanDuel will make more announcements when it’s ready to open the permanent home.
While FanDuel will be one of the first sportsbooks to open in the state, it will have some competition from the beginning.
DraftKings also going live for in-person betting Thursday
A temporary location for DraftKings Sportsbook CT at the Foxwoods Casino is also starting to take bets on Sept. 30.
So far, it is unknown exactly what time the sportsbook will open and how many windows the Ultimate Racebook in Rainmaker Casino will feature.
An indeterminate number of betting kiosks will be available throughout the gaming floor there as well.
Just like with FanDuel, the only betting action at DraftKings for the time being will be at the kiosks and windows. The DraftKings app and website are not yet ready to accept wagers in CT.
The same goes for the other looming online and retail sportsbook, PlaySugarHouse CT. That brand is coming to Connecticut courtesy of a deal with the Connecticut Lottery.
The last confirmed target date for the launch of online wagering was Thursday, Oct. 7. None of the three operators have confirmed they will be actually going live then, however.
