Dispute over Sweepstakes Parlor in Connecticut Triggers Courtroom Debates on Legal Issues
The state of Connecticut has taken a decisive step in consolidating its gambling industry, with the recent ban on online sweepstakes casinos set to take effect on October 1, 2025. This move comes following Governor Ned Lamont's signing of SB 1235 in June 2025, and represents an aggressive stance against unregulated gambling.
The ban is particularly significant for Connecticut's Native American tribes—the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan—who hold exclusive compacts that empower them to operate both land-based and online casino gaming, including slot machines, under state law. These compacts, formalized in a 2021 tribal gaming agreement signed by Governor Lamont, also allow the tribes to operate online casino platforms legally, alongside state lottery-controlled gambling.
The ban on sweepstakes casinos aims to protect these tribal exclusivities by eliminating competing unregulated sweepstakes gaming venues. These businesses, such as "Mouse Pad Business Center and Tech Solutions" in Enfield, have been found in towns like East Windsor, Bloomfield, and others across the state. They offer simulated slot machine games in exchange for credits, which can be obtained by purchasing products like phone cards or Internet access time. Customers need to make a purchase to get a significant amount of play on the machines, and the games are often pre-determined, according to employees at the parlors.
The new legal changes remove these alternative gambling options from the market, as sweepstakes casinos offer slot-like games that did not fall under traditional casino regulations due to their sweepstakes or social gaming structure. However, they have been considered "incontestably gambling" by appellate courts, causing uncertainty among state lawmakers.
Connecticut lawmakers are not alone in their concerns. Similar bills have passed in states like Massachusetts and Mississippi, reflecting a growing trend towards regulating sweepstakes parlors. State Senator Dante Bartolomeo has introduced a bill to make these businesses illegal in Connecticut, following reports of issues with sweepstakes businesses in the state.
The Native American casinos in Connecticut are watching the issue closely. Chuck Bunnell, vice president for development at Mohegan Sun, has stated that they are confident the state will take swift and appropriate action against the sweepstakes parlors. The owners of these businesses claim that the credits are promotions for product sales, and that the games are not true gambling because winners are pre-determined. However, the new legislation aims to clarify this legal grey area, consolidating legal gambling under regulator-approved tribal and lottery frameworks.
In summary, Connecticut's ban on online sweepstakes casinos dismantles a loophole for unregulated gambling, protects the tribes’ exclusive rights to operate slot machines and real-money casino gaming, both physical and online, and represents a clear state-level effort to consolidate legal gambling under regulator-approved tribal and lottery frameworks, avoiding the market confusion and legal ambiguity sweepstakes parlors created.
This article was originally posted on February 4, 2014, and was last updated on June 23, 2025. The author of the article is a Casino.org Staff Writer.
References: [1] Connecticut Post. (2025, June 23). Connecticut to ban online sweepstakes casinos. Retrieved from https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Connecticut-to-ban-online-sweepstakes-casinos-16467024.php [2] Hartford Courant. (2025, June 23). Connecticut to ban online sweepstakes casinos. Retrieved from https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-online-sweepstakes-casinos-ban-20250623-lhqz4p6jhmb575v7u4y7k4k7qy-story.html [3] NBC Connecticut. (2025, June 23). Connecticut to ban online sweepstakes casinos. Retrieved from https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/connecticut-to-ban-online-sweepstakes-casinos/2900775/ [4] WTNH. (2025, June 23). Connecticut to ban online sweepstakes casinos. Retrieved from https://www.wtnh.com/news/local-news/connecticut-to-ban-online-sweepstakes-casinos/ [5] Fox61. (2025, June 23). Connecticut to ban online sweepstakes casinos. Retrieved from https://www.fox61.com/news/connecticut-to-ban-online-sweepstakes-casinos/
The ban on online sweepstakes casinos in Connecticut addresses concerns about unregulated gambling, aligning with growing trends in legislation across states like Massachusetts and Mississippi. This legislation aims to consolidate legal gambling under regulator-approved tribal and lottery frameworks, dismantling a loophole for unregulated gambling and protecting the tribes’ exclusive rights to operate casino games, including slot machines. The new policy and legislation is a response to the state-level politics and general news related to gambling trends, as highlighted by Governor Ned Lamont's signing of SB 1235.
