The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is to commence retail sports betting from today (Thursday 30 September) at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, in partnership with DraftKings.
This will enable players to place bets at a temporary DraftKings Sportsbook at Foxwoods, located at the Ultimate Race Book in Rainmaker Casino, in addition to betting kiosks located across the resort.
Furthermore, statewide off-reservation online sports betting and igaming are expected to launch in early October, pending regulatory approvals.
“We’re thrilled to join the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in bringing a holistic and delightful sports betting experience for customers in Connecticut,” said Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of DraftKings North America.
“By leveraging the tribe’s expertise in developing and operating one of the largest resort casinos in the world, we are excited to bring new offerings for consumers in The Constitution State.”
The DraftKings Sportsbook at Foxwoods gives players the opportunity to place wagers on a variety of betting markets across professional and collegiate sports via kiosks and in-person.
In the coming weeks, the two parties will announce the opening of their permanent retail sportsbook, which is currently in the final stages of construction.
“Today we celebrate a new era for our Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, sports fans, Foxwoods guests and Connecticut residents,” commented Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal chair.
“We thank Governor Lamont and his administration, regulators, and the many lawmakers who helped pave the way for legal sports betting and expanded gaming in the state.
“Their collaboration and hard work has allowed trusted gaming operators like our tribe and DraftKings to help lead innovation across Connecticut. With NFL season in full force, it’s game on, and we look forward to a successful launch.”
Last month analysts suggested that online sports betting and igaming in Connecticut boasts the potential to reach $418m in combined annual revenues, with the pair to become “valuable” to the state.