CT Governor throws support behind legal betting and igaming

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has followed his New York counterpart Andrew Cuomo in voicing his support for legal sports betting and online gambling.

Connecticut

Giving his State of the State address yesterday (6 January), Lamont said 2020 had been one of the “most challenging and humbling” years of his life, due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

This, he said, had prompted the state to work closely with neighbours such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York to coordinate their response to the crisis.

Lamont pledged to continue to leverage these relationships as part of Connecticut’s recovery from the pandemic.

He said Connecticut would work with its neighboring states and tribal partners on a path forward to “modernize gaming”, as well as working in the legislature to legalize marijuana.

“Sports betting, internet gaming, and legalized marijuana are happening all around us,” Lamont added. “Let’s not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or even worse, underground markets.”

His pledge to expand the state’s gambling market comes amid reports that Governor Andrew Cuomo is preparing to relax his stance against mobile wagering in neighbouring New York.

Read the full story on iGB North America.