Foxwoods and DraftKings recently announced the state’s first sports betting bar and are currently hiring for several positions. The bar’s opening will coincide with the opening of the DraftKings sportsbook in Grand Pequot Tower sometime this fall.
It will create an ideal destination for sports bettors should the practice become fully legal in Connecticut, which is expected to become reality in the near future.
Foxwoods and DraftKings hire service positions
Two hiring days were announced initially by Foxwoods and DraftKings, both of which have already occurred.
While the casino and operating partner concluded their special hiring days, allowing the bar to fill out its service positions. Ranging from hosts and hostesses to bartenders and chefs to managers, the events signal a preparedness for what’s to come in Connecticut.
For starters, the casino will open the state’s first sports betting bar. This obviously hints at Foxwoods’ intent to open a retail sportsbook. However, until legal wagering is launched in Connecticut, this space will serve as a social environment.
Despite that, this first-of-its-kind sports betting bar is an exciting prospect for soon-to-be Connecticut sports bettors. So when can we expect the bar to open, given the remaining legal holdups for sports betting in the state?
Sports betting in Connecticut slowly moves forward
While Connecticuters are eager to begin placing their bets for the first time within state borders, there are still a few hurdles that operators still need to clear before they can be fully open for business.
The state’s two federally recognized tribal nations, the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans, have partnered with DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook, respectively, for their sports betting operations.
The U.S. Department of Interior approved gambling compacts in the state, which is a significant hurdle to clear. So now lawmakers will need to review and issue licenses to incoming operators.
Gov. Ned Lamont remains optimistic:
“I’m told we’re going to get a green light from Washington over the next week or two, then we’ve got to clarify and finish all of our consumer protection rules to make sure that that’s in place. But I think we’ll have online gaming and sports betting in the very near future.”
Though there is no firm date for when sports betting sites can begin operation, stakeholders have targeted an October launch.
It is an exciting time for the sports betting industry in Connecticut, and hopefully, this new sports betting bar from Foxwoods and DraftKings is just the beginning of more great things to come.
