Connecticut Sees Drop in Sports Betting, iGaming Handle in February
The amount of money bet on sports declined in Connecticut during February, as did the state’s online casino gaming totals.
Despite a dip, the state still saw over $850 million wagered on sports and online games in February.
Online gaming in Connecticut, or iGaming, far outpaced the amount of money wagered on sports statewide in February.
Connecticut’s iGaming handle topped $743.8 million in February, down 4.6% from January’s $780 million. The “handle” is the amount of money bettors wager, before winners are paid.
In February, the state received $17.1 million in tax revenue from iGaming, a 9% decline from January's $18.8 million.
Connecticut Sports Betting, February vs. January
| Month | Total handle | Mobile handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | $115.620M | $108.771M | $3.647M |
| January | $158.092M | $149.353M | $8.309M |
| Change | Down 26.9% | Down 27.2% | Down 56.1% |
New York Lawmaker Seeks Connecticut-Style iGaming
Connecticut has been mentioned in legislation filed next door in New York to allow online casino games in the Empire State.
Senate Bill 8412, sponsored by state Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., D-Queens, notes that some of New York’s neighbors, including Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, already have legal iGaming.
The senator’s bill, which would allow online table games and slots, is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. The legislative session in Albany ends June 2.
Addabbo told Gambling.com that iGaming, if approved, could outperform sports betting in New York.
Sports betting is allowed inside New York’s four upstate casinos and anywhere in the state on mobile devices such as smartphones. From Jan. 8 through the end of February, mobile sports bettors in New York wagered a record $3.5 billion.
NFL Playoff Games Boost January Betting
In Connecticut, the total sports betting handle in February topped $115.6, down 26.9% from the $158 million wagered on sports in January.
The majority of sports betting in Connecticut took place on mobile devices. In states such as Connecticut that allow in-person and mobile sports betting, the majority of wagering takes place on mobile devices rather than at casino ticket windows.
The Connecticut mobile sports betting handle in February was $108.7 million, down 27.2% from January’s $149.3 million.
The decline in wagering from January to February is due partly to the number of weekends in each month. January had five weekends, while February had four.
Also, during January, 12 NFL playoff games and the College Football Playoff National Championship took place. Major football games are usually the nation’s most heavily wagered sporting events.
February’s sports betting totals were boosted by the NFL’s Super Bowl, held on Feb. 13 in Southern California.
