Legal Connecticut Online Poker Sites

In this guide find out the Legality of Online Poker in Connecticut

Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Avatar Author Adrian Sterne
Fact checked by Dusan Jovanovic

Unlike some US states that are entirely anti-gambling oriented, Connecticut favors poker players and offers numerous gambling opportunities. The Constitution State has legalized different types of gambling over the years. Thus, its residents can now legally play poker at tribal land-based casinos and online. Connecticut is one of the few states that regulated online casinos and poker in 2021.

This article will discuss the state’s current stance on gambling and land-based and online poker in Connecticut.

The first form of gambling in Connecticut was harness racing, dating back to the 19th century. It appeared in 1876 and remained unregulated for the next 100 years. Once the 20th century began, the state decided to legalize a few forms of gambling. Thus, bingo was approved in 1939, but only for charitable purposes. In 1955, the state expanded the scope of charitable gambling and added bazaars and ruffles to the mix.

The year 1971 saw the legalization of the Connecticut lottery and pari-mutuel wagering on sports that featured this betting system. However, in 1976, this pari-mutuel law was extended to include off-track wagering, and horse and greyhound racing and jai alai were legalized.

One of the two federally-recognized Native American tribes in the state, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, opened a bingo parlor in 1986. The court ruled that the parlor could operate on sovereign Native American land as a for-profit enterprise, which was different from charitable bingo.

Thanks to the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, the parlor became a casino and started offering table games, including poker. Finally, the first land-based gambling venue, Foxwoods Casino, opened its doors in 1993, and another, Mohegan Sun, followed suit in 1996.

Connecticut decided to legalize online casinos, poker rooms, and sports betting in May 2021. Although this showed the state’s pro-gambling stance, things have been going slowly poker-wise. This is why many poker players visit sweepstakes sites or play at offshore casinos.

Poker Laws

LawLike anywhere in the world, laws are a highly sensitive matter in Connecticut, too, and we cannot interpret them as we see fit. Thus, it is advisable to read them carefully. To get familiar will all the CT gambling-related legislation, check out the following:

Best Legal Poker Rooms in Connecticut

After learning about CT gambling laws, let’s check where you can play online and land-based poker. In the following sections, we will examine both topics in more detail.

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Land-Based Poker in Connecticut

As we have already mentioned, Connecticut has only two land-based tribal casinosFoxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and Mohegan Sun Casino, owned and run by Mohegan Tribe. Since they first opened in the 1990s, the two Indian casinos have become major tourist attractions. With those two establishments in place, Connecticut has found no reason to add commercial casinos to its landscape, which is unlikely to change anytime soon. Thus, they are the only places you can see live poker action.

Once these gambling halls reached an agreement with governor Lowell P. Weicker Jr. in 1993, they added casino games to their game floors. Currently, you can play anything from blackjack and roulette to hundreds of slot machines at both establishments. Each has a poker room with an outstanding reputation, offering many poker titles. Foxwoods Casino’s poker room features almost 150 tables, while at Mohegan Sun, you’ll find 42.

Aside from their gaming floors, the casinos attract people worldwide by offering luxury accommodations and a slew of bars and restaurants for fine and casual dining and entertainment. If you’d like to visit any of them, you must be 21 or older.

How to Register at a Legal Online Poker Site in Connecticut

Poker players in Connecticut who want to test their skills online can sign up with one of the offshore online casinos listed above. Our guide will walk you through the registration process:

Choose A Poker Room

Find your favorite online casino by browsing our list at the top of this page.

Go to its official website, alternatively, click on the link we have provided. It will take you directly to the provider’s official website.

Signup

Start the registration process by clicking the Register/Join/Sign Up button.

Set up an account by supplying the necessary information and submitting your request.

Verify your email address if the casino requires this step, and log into your account.

Deposit & Play

Visit the Cashier section and choose the payment method that works best for you. Then, make a deposit and wait for the transaction to clear.

Go to the games section, find the poker variant you want, and start playing.

Land-Based Casinos With Live Poker

Since land-based poker falls under the jurisdiction of IGRA, the Constitution State only has tribal gambling establishments. Currently, there are two — Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino. The former is located on the tribe’s reservation in Ledyard, while the latter is only 20 miles away in Uncasville.

Aside from offering an enjoyable gambling experience and employing friendly staff, these venues feature numerous poker variations. Caribbean Stud Poker, Four Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Hold’em, and Three Card Poker are some of them.

Additionally, both casinos are poker tournament hubs with excellent reputations. Foxwoods Casino’s poker room is famous worldwide, and it was frequently part of major poker events in the past, such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour (WPT). Aside from that, CT poker players can enjoy daily Texas Hold’em events (up to four or five on weekends).

You cannot go wrong with any of these two brick-and-mortar casinos. If you decide to test your poker skills, this is where you can find them:

Other Resources

Final Thoughts

Compared to other US states, the CT laws are lenient, and the state has a lot to offer to its poker players. Its residents can enjoy playing land-based live poker in two outstanding tribal casinos. State-legalized online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms will only bring more poker opportunities once this market starts flourishing. Until then, poker players can hone their skills at CT-licensed sweepstakes casinos or offshore-licensed poker rooms. Scroll up to the top of this page to find the list of the top-rated ones.

FAQ

Is online poker legal in Connecticut?

Yes. Thanks to House Bill 6451, passed in May 2021, Connecticut became the seventh state to legalize online poker. Although the state gave the green light to operators to go live on July 1 of the same year, there have yet to be any takers.

Which offshore gambling platforms accept CT residents?

Regardless of their preferred type of gambling, Connecticut residents should have no problems joining the best US-friendly iGaming sites.

What’s the legal gambling age in Connecticut?

Poker and other casino games in CT are available to players who are 21 or older. You must be 18 to play keno, lotto, and bingo.

Will Connecticut sign an online poker compact with other states?

No provision in the Connecticut law expressly permits the state to participate in interstate online poker. Such a provision would allow CT players to play at digital tables with players from New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. If this happens in the future, it will expand the player pool significantly, attracting more providers.

Which laws cover online gambling in the Constitution State?

To find specific regulations regarding online real-money gaming, you should consult the Connecticut House Bill 6451. The bill legalized online casinos, sports wagering, fantasy sports, and poker rooms through the state’s two tribal operators.

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