Recently, state legislators introduced two bills to create additional options for sports betting in Connecticut. 

One suggestion would sanction and oversee sports betting during flights. According to the bill, it would occur on flights that are either taking off or landing in the state. 

One percent of revenue from in-flight sports bets will be allocated to support public education in both rural and urban school districts within the state. 

The proposal is currently under review by the General Law Committee of the state legislature. The law was proposed by state Representative Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport. 

Is It at Odds with Federal Law? 

However, such a suggestion might contradict federal regulations. 

Section 41311 of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act specifies: “An air carrier or foreign air carrier shall not install, transport, or operate, or allow the use of, any gambling device on an aircraft engaged in foreign air transportation.” 

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently reached out to DraftKings and Delta Air Lines urging them to halt the rollout of a new partnership that would provide in-flight gaming to travelers.

"This new partnership advances the proliferation of sports betting, further fueling a crisis of problem gambling. Betting companies have leveraged data collected on consumers to entice them through bonuses and promotions to hook them on this addictive product – resulting in a public health crisis that is producing huge costs in addiction, financial ruin, family disruption and much more,” Blumenthal wrote in the letter.

A somewhat unclear statement was delivered by Delta CEO Ed Bastian during a recent keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) taking place at the Las Vegas Sphere. 

“Since we’re here in Las Vegas, the gaming capital of the world, it’s only fitting to announce a collaboration with DraftKings, one of the world’s leading online gaming platforms, for the Delta Sync experience,” Bastian said.

Residents Might Wager on UConn Games 

Moreover, there is a proposed bill in the Connecticut legislature that would permit in-state wagering on games involving colleges situated in Connecticut. 

This encompasses institutions such as UConn and Yale. At present, bets cannot be placed in the state on sporting events related to these universities. Thus, residents of Connecticut are now traveling out of state to place bets on sports events that include teams from Connecticut campuses. 

Wagers would be placed via DraftKings and FanDuel. 

The bill is introduced by state Representative Tony Scott, R-Monroe. It is currently before the General Law Committee of the legislature.

"It would be a huge, huge deal. We would make so much more money as far as lottery goes. Even on the restaurant side it would be a bigger deal because then they wouldn’t have to go so many places to play the way they want and gamble the way they want,” Kristina Rodriguez, Fanatics Sportsbook manager, told Connecticut TV station WFSB.

A comparable proposal did not receive approval in last year’s legislative session. 

In 2021, Connecticut permitted online sports betting.