Connecticut Gambling Laws
All across the United States, from the deep corners of the Wild West all the way to the tip of New England, citizens seem to have a deep curiosity bordering on loving relationship with gambling. Obviously, the state of Connecticut is no exception to this rule. Whether it’s laying one’s guts out on the poker felt or betting the farm on the Patriots in the playoffs, the romantic image of the gambler has never left the public image. To keep the romance alive, this article will help you understand Connecticut gambling laws.
While our romances may indeed be idealized, this does not mean that a responsible gambling hobby cannot be enjoyable or even a little profitable, in fact, quite the contrary. The only upsetting controversy surrounding it is the cloudy idea many residents of the state have concerning the legal status of gambling. While the hobby is certainly not for everyone, many withhold themselves from participating on the false pretense that anyone who even so much as participates in gambling has a jail cell waiting with their name on it.
Federal law says that while it’s a serious crime to facilitate and profit from illicit gambling that it is perfectly within citizens’ rights to merely place bets or wager on a game of chance. Although many states (CT included) add and enhance this with their own legislation, this is usually used as the template by which state laws are formed around. This page will guide Connecticut residents through the complex legal landscape surrounding a casual gambling hobby & guide them towards the safest means of gambling in their home state.
Legality of Gambling in Connecticut
Whereas the federal laws governing the subject do not offer a definition or punishment for the term “gambling,” Connecticut gambling laws do. If one consults section 53-278, chapter a subdivision 2 of legislation, they will find that gambling means “risking any money, credit, deposit or other thing of value for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance.” By including the clause “in whole or in part on chance,” Connecticut prohibits not only casino games and betting on future events, but playing poker for money as well.
The law goes on to classify this crime as a class B misdemeanor which can result in up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1000. Based on this literature, it would seem that Connecticut flies in the face of federal law and does indeed take umbrage with otherwise honest citizens who merely participate in gambling, but a quick glance through the history books reveals otherwise. Although gambling is by technicality outlawed in the state, this act has never been enforced against a resident who was not on trial for any other crimes.
The thing to understand about anti-gambling legislation, whether federal regulations or imposed by the state of Connecticut is that the target is and always has been large, organized criminal syndicates and not those who merely wish to place a bet. Once the intent of the law in understood, it’s easier to understand its enforcement. Residents of Connecticut are completely safe from prosecution if they develop a responsible and discrete gambling hobby.
However, no one should interpret this as Connecticut being open ground for all sorts of gambling activity. If, within the state, a resident is found guilty of “professional gambling” as defined in section 53-278, chapter a subdivision 3, they are not only committing a class A misdemeanor and therefore leaving themselves open to a more severe penalty of up to a full year in jail along with a $2000 fine, they are committing a crime that is sure to attract plenty of attention from state law enforcement agencies and has been enforced countless times throughout the state’s history.
Difference Between Gambling & Professional Gambling
Luckily, these two acts are as separate s the penalties associated with each of them, and it would be just about impossible for someone to slip from gambling to professional gambling inadvertently. When one makes the decision to gamble, they need to place a bet or wager, whether on a future event like a sports match, political election, or even an entertainment award or a game of chance they want to play.
In order to place the bet, that player needs to find someone who is willing to take it. The person who takes that bet and assumes responsibility for setting odds or operating the game is most likely guilty of professional gambling. Just so Connecticut residents are clear that they won’t get their elderly grandfather’s thrown in jail for betting a nickel on the UCONN Huskies, there is one more vitally important clause to the act of professional gambling: the gambling must be conducted for a profit.
This does not mean that guilty party profits from their own gambling event by making wise bets and wagers throughout the game and winds up coming out ahead, this means that they set themselves up in such a way that they may turn a profit from the game whether they place bets on it or not. Some of the most popular ways of doing this are through charging admission for the privilege to play in a gambling event or even selling food, beverage or merchandise at a profitable markup through the course of the game, operating a sportsbook which assumes responsibility for collecting money and distributing winnings, or collecting a “rake” from a poker game, which means setting aside a small percentage of each pot as profit for the house.
Just so long as a Connecticut resident is careful to avoid any of these specific actions, they should be able to avoid that more serious “professional gambling” classification, or indeed, any legal attention at all for breaking Connecticut gambling laws.
Betting Laws In Connecticut
Connecticut Sports Betting Laws
In all the legislation surrounding gambling in the country, that surrounding sports betting is the most unique. In 1992, Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (or PASPA) which strictly prohibited any states from sanctioning sports betting within their own borders. In a country where the issue of states’ rights is so prevalent, it’s strange that a law so intrusive was passed with so little resistance. As it stands, only four states out of the 50 were grandfathered in and exception to PASPA, and Connecticut was not one of them.
This makes land based sports betting in Connecticut impossible without forcing oneself to associate with a criminal element. Obviously, this is an unsafe act and not recommended. Luckily, many residents have found they are able to make use of legal online sportsbooks to help regularly throw down a little bit of money on upcoming sports matches without having to worry about any legal prosecution.
Connecticut Casino Gaming Laws
Residents of Connecticut who want to play casino games may be under the belief that since there are no casinos sanctioned by the State of Connecticut, they are out of luck when it comes to rolling physical dice in a brick-and-mortar casino. However, thanks to a few federally exempt tribal casinos located within the state, Connecticut residents are able to play traditional casino table games or use hundreds of slot machines in the giant facilities located throughout the state. Obviously, any laws restricting gambling do not apply on these premises, and those operating the games in these casinos are exempt from the “professional gambling:” clause.
If one does not want to make the trip to these casinos or would rather not fight the large crowds just to spin the slot machine a couple of times, they are also free to join the thousands of Connecticut residents who have signed up and play with legal online casinos every day from the comfort of their own homes.
Connecticut Poker Laws
Due to the popularity of poker which is by far the preferred means of gambling for players throughout the country, some states exempt the act of poker from their definition of gambling by defining it as a “game of skill.” Unfortunately, Connecticut is not one such state. However, the tribal casinos located in the state offer several poker tables along with their traditional casino game offerings.
In addition to table play at these casinos, Connecticut residents may rest assured that state nor will federal laws interfere with their sacred home games. Whether it’s the age-old institution of Saturday night cards among co-workers or playing a quiet game in a legal online poker room on a weeknight, just so long as each resident is careful not to collect a profit off of games they host, Connecticut gambling laws will take no umbrage with however they decide to play poker or how often.
Legal Gambling Age In Connecticut
It’s true that state law enforcement agencies will have no issue with honest residents who choose to participate in gambling. However, this all goes out the window if one chooses to gamble underage in the state of Connecticut. The legal age for gambling in a casino is 21, and the importance of waiting until one is over the legal age to gamble cannot be stressed enough.
If one is caught gambling before they turn 21, they will not only have the state who will likely hand down a steep legal fine along with potential jail time to deal with, but the facility they are caught gambling underage in. Along with some sort of ban being enforced, all money associated with their gambling, including deposits and winnings, will be forfeit, making the entire endeavor useless from the beginning. There are some things in life one just shouldn’t rush, and legal gambling is one of them.
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General |
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| 18 |
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Lottery |
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| 18 |
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Casinos |
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| N/A |
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Poker |
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| N/A |
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Pari-Mutuel |
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| 18 |
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Bingo |
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| N/A |
Where To Gamble In Connecticut
On-Land:
For land based casino gambling in Connecticut, the options are quality over quantity. While the MGM Grand at Foxwoods is one of only three options in the entire state, it boasts almost 50,000 slot machines as well as hundreds of table games for residents to play on. These casinos also offer several poker tables for playing in tournaments as well as sit and go setting to earn a couple bucks of a few hands. These casinos also come equipped with hotel rooms, which is a good thing because unless a player lives in New London County where all three are located they will be taking a long drive to visit.
Online/Web-Based:
Fortunately for those who enjoy gambling more casually for smaller amounts of time rather than splurging for an entire weekend, there are several legal gambling websites for Connecticut residents that can serve them 24/7.
Careful readers who have spent this entire article reading that even though one will not be prosecuted for the mere act of gambling that they can almost certainly be taken directly to jail for facilitating it will almost certainly be wondering how it’s possible that a website can legally host Connecticut gambling. The answer is simple: by virtue of location. Since these gambling networks have been established and are maintained in foreign territories, they are well outside Connecticut jurisdiction, and therefore, there is absolutely no concern that any government entity will shut them down. There is simply no better alternative for Connecticut residents than safely gambling from home, free from the threat of prosecution, with a fully legalized and legitimate business.
While the idea of gambling with a foreign business may make many Connecticut residents nervous, there is no cause for alarm. In order to maintain legal operations, the legal gambling sites listed on this page are held to a strict set of Connecticut gambling laws which force them to not only endorse fair play for all players throughout their site, but to keep financial information under lock and key and to process payouts in a manner that is fair, efficient, and speedy.
Online Gambling Sites For Connecticut Residents
Bovada Sportsbook
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Just because there are several legal gambling sites for Connecticut residents does not mean that they are all created equal. Members of Bovada know this better than anyone. Whether a player is most interested in a glamorous, bustling poker room, a casino boasting cutting edge software, or the most complete and varied sportsbook in the world, Bovada has all of that covered under the umbrella of the most reputable name in the online gaming industry.
Bovada comes backed not only by a sterling reputation but by a top notch customer service team. Any time a valued Bovada member has some sort of issue with the website, they may call the toll free number to be instantly connected to a knowledgeable and native English speaking customer service representative with intimate knowledge about the gaming software, bet placing, the financial systems surrounding Bovada, or indeed any nook and cranny about the expansive Bovada network will be at your service instantly.
Full List of Trusted Connecticut Gambling Sites
Disclaimer - How To Get More Help
We here at ConnecticutGamblingLaws.com are gamblers with an interest in law, not the other way around. While we are confident that the information on this website is accurate, it cannot be considered a legal consult. If you require further information about Connecticut gambling laws, please check with the state legislation directly at www.cga.ct.gov. In fact, the staff here consulted the online gambling laws in Connecticut when researching this site...learn how we learned and you will know what we know!