Connecticut online poker legislation making progress

Online gambling, including poker, casino games and sports betting in Connecticut is one step closer following come recent deals and votes.

Earlier this month a key deal was made between the state’s two tribal nations and the government on online gambling. The Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation are both onboard with expanding online gambling in the state. That agreement would allow both tribes and the Connecticut Lottery to engage in online gambling once legalized in the state.

Can Connecticut online poker legislation succeed?

That legalization also become closer this week after the Joint Public Safety and Security Committee passed three bills that dealt with online gambling and sports betting. The bills will now move to the general floor of the House or Senate for a full vote.

The three bills that passed Committee were HB 6451, SB 146 and HB 6512.

HB 6451 is the bill that brings the agreements signed between the two tribes and the state into law. That would allow both the tribes and the state to offer online and retail sports betting and online poker and casino games.

SB 146 deals with the taxes that will be raised from the new sources of gambling revenue. Under the bill retail sports betting would be taxed at 13.75 percent, while online gambling, including poker, casino games and sports betting would be taxed at 18 percent. After five years the online gambling tax rate would increase to 20 percent.

HB 6512 deals with consumer protection for sports betting.

If the bills pass the votes there will still be many months, or even years before online poker would officially launch in Connecticut. The tribes have announced deals with sportsbook operators, but no online poker deals or partnerships have been announced.