The Connecticut Lottery Corp. announced Thursday it is partnering with BetRivers-owner Rush Street Interactive to bring sports betting to the people of the Nutmeg State.
“Through this 10-year agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, RSI will serve as the CLC’s exclusive provider of a state-of-the-art sports betting system for mobile, online, and retail channels, including as the operator of the CLC’s mobile/online sportsbook,” the lottery said in a press release.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont in May signed a bill to legalize retail and online sports betting in his state. That legislation stemmed from an agreement Lamont’s administration struck earlier in the year with the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe that allows them, as well as the Connecticut Lottery Corp., to offer retail and online sports wagering, among other things.
Sports Betting News!! The Connecticut Lottery Corporation Announces Sports Betting Operations Partnership with Rush Street Interactive. Details: https://t.co/8wzDQ8vUZx. pic.twitter.com/CTWPzE35fm
— CT Lottery (@ctlottery) August 12, 2021
The casino-owning Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes have already announced FanDuel Group and DraftKings Inc. as their respective partners in Connecticut.
And while the agreement with the tribes still awaits approval from the federal government — and that approval is needed before sports betting can begin — the state lottery is forging ahead with its plans. A request for proposals for a “Sports Betting Solution” closed in June.
“The Successful Proposer will be responsible for providing a full-service SB System for the mobile and retail channels, and complete back-office solution to handle every aspect of allowing players to create accounts, fund accounts, place wagers, apply promotions, pay wins, withdraw funds, and adhere to all federal and state laws, local ordinances and all regulations,” the CT Lottery RFP stated.
After a bit of searching, the lottery settled on Rush Street Interactive, which boasts brands such as SugarHouse and BetRivers. The company currently operates in 10 states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
According to the CT Lottery, the 10-year deal with RSI includes $170 million in guaranteed minimum revenue share from online and retail sports betting.
“We look forward to working with the team at Rush Street Interactive,” said Greg Smith, president and chief executive of the CT Lottery, in the release. “We had 15 quality proposals from well-established gaming companies, and RSI rose to the top through the combination of its experience and commitment to quality products, customer service, and responsible gaming safeguards."
On track for off-track wagering
CT Lottery is allowed to partner with a licensed online gaming operator for its single mobile skin, but it can't be "branded along with an entity or brand that operates a physical casino in any jurisdiction," an analysis of the sports-betting legalization legislation said. Any physical betting facilities cannot be within 25 miles of a tribe’s reservation either, which is where both the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos are located.
According to the bill that Lamont signed in May, the state lottery can conduct sports betting at up to 15 brick-and-mortar facilities, which could be off-track betting locations. CT Lottery announced on Thursday that it is partnering with Sportech to offer sports betting at 10 of Sportech’s OTBs in the state.
“We are very excited to partner with Sportech to bring retail sports betting to all corners of the state of Connecticut,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, chair of CLC’s board of directors, in the press release. “Their existing locations and licensed staff will allow us to get to market quickly with RSI’s retail offering, and we look forward to working with them as we ramp up retail sports betting around the state.”
