Connecticut Gaming Control Board and Best CGCB Casinos

How the Connecticut Gaming Control Board Works

The purpose of the Connecticut GCB is to oversee and regulate all gambling activity in Connecticut. Any casinos or other organizations that want to operate in the state must apply for a license from the Board, meaning it effectively decides who can and cannot legally offer gambling - whether casino games, sports betting, horse racing or lottery. 

The Board ensures that all legal requirements are being fulfilled by sportsbooks and casinos which have received licenses.

That goes for things like age limits (21 years old to gamble at a casino, 18 years old to play the lottery) and also making sure that casino games are fair and work as advertised. In this case of online casino games, this means testing Random Number Generator software to ensure it works correctly for example. 

The Board is also involved in monitoring the social impact of gambling, determining how public money generated from casinos and sports betting is used, and promoting and providing resources for responsible gambling in Connecticut.

Protecting the Players' Funds

Protecting players’ funds is a big part of the Connecticut Gaming Control Board’s duties, and there are a number of steps it takes to do so.

For one, the Board only distributes licenses to casinos it deems trustworthy and that meet the various requirements to operate in the state. Every online casino and sportsbook has a physical location, and pays tax to the state. Put simply, the Board wouldn’t accredit a site that it believes is likely to take advantage of players or withhold their funds. 

This is in contrast to offshore casinos, which are not bound to local state laws and requirements, and are much more likely to disappear with your money. 

Furthermore, the Board specifically regulates the practices of the individual casinos - including any money accrued through bonuses and promotions - under the Unfair Trade Practices Act. 

Choosing a licensed and regulated Connecticut casino, and knowing that their personal funds are monitored and protected, creates peace of mind for players.

Applying for a Connecticut GCB License

Since 2018, when the Supreme Court removed the federal ban on sports betting and online gambling, every state in the US has been free to determine its own gambling laws.

In Connecticut, in order to apply for a gambling license, you must be affiliated with one of the local indigenous tribes (the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe), or with the Connecticut Lottery Corporation. You can also apply if you are part of an existing licensee that is already affiliated with either a tribe or the CLC. 

There are four types of licenses available in total:

• A master wagering license - available to the tribes or CLC only.
• An online gaming operator license - available for affiliates of the tribes or CLC.
• An online gaming service provider license - for businesses supplying goods, services or equipment to licensed casinos or sportsbooks. 
• A retail sports wagering license - allows in-person sports betting at retail locations.

Furthermore, all key employees of any prospective licensees must submit to background screening and a criminal record check.

How to Make a Complaint via the Connecticut Gaming Control Board

The CGC Board advises consumers to take the following steps if they have an issue or complaint with any of the online casinos or sportsbooks in the state.

First, consumers are advised to try to solve their issue via the customer support channels of the company themselves. 

With DraftKings and FanDuel, this involves accessing the help section of the sites and contacting them via the email support tool if necessary.

With Rush Street Interactive, players can either email [email protected] or call 1 (855) 450-2077.

If your issue is with a brick and mortar casino, rather than online, you should try to find a resolution using the casinos existing support structures.

If you can’t find a satisfactory conclusion, the next step is to file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection Complaints Center. You can find lots of advice here on the best way to proceed, and the DCP will advise you on the next steps depending on your issue. 

Finding a Safe Connecticut GCB Casino Online

It’s still relatively early days for legal gambling in Connecticut, which went live in October 2021. Since then, three licensed online casino and sports betting platforms have launched:

• DraftKings through a deal with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe
• FanDuel through a deal with the Mohegan Tribe
• PlaySugarHouse through a deal with the Connecticut Lottery

Any other platform advertised to players in Connecticut is not licensed, and should be avoided from a consumer protection point of view. Of course, this may change in the future if more casinos receive licenses. 

The important thing is to always choose a licensed site, and to avoid unregulated offshore casinos and sportsbooks. 

Read the Player Reviews

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection exists for the benefit of regular people in the state, to protect their interests and give them resources should they run into any kind of trouble with commercial entities. 

It, therefore, makes sense to hear from the consumers directly, and when it comes to online gambling one of the best places to do so is at the App Store or Google Play Store. 

All the top sites in CT have mobile apps available to download, and you’ll also find a constant stream of reviews from players who have downloaded the mobile platform. The range of opinion is usually useful and informative - covering both positives and negatives - and any glaring weaknesses with a casino or sportsbook will soon become apparent in the reviews if they’re not addressed.

DraftKings’ mobile app for example has been downloaded over a million times, and has almost 25,000 reviews on the Google Play Store - where it’s rated 4.6/5.

Check the Terms and Conditions

This is an evergreen piece of advice before you sign up for any online gambling site, whether in Connecticut or elsewhere. 

It’s particularly true when it comes to claiming promotions, like the welcome bonus packages that casinos and sportsbooks offer to attract new players. Every site has some kind of offer for new members, whether it’s a no deposit bonus, free spins or free bets, or a boost on your first deposit.

To understand these offers, and get the most out of them, reading the terms and conditions carefully is absolutely essential. Check the wagering requirements (how many times you need to gamble with some bonus cash before it is unlocked), time limits, and other qualifying criteria. 

Luckily, the Connecticut GCB has your back here as well. Part of the remit of the DCP is to regulate against any “deceptive or misleading” promotions regarding the chances of winning, the availability or value of the prize, or any misinformation surrounding bonuses.

Responsible Gambling Under the Connecticut GCB License

The Connecticut GCG has lots of resources designed to promote responsible gambling and player welfare and safety. 

As we’ve covered already, only sites that comply with Connecticut’s gambling and fairness rules and regulations are awarded licenses, and no one under the age of 21 is allowed to enter a casino or play online casino games.  

You’ll find links to external support systems on the Board’s website, including the following:

• The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at www.ct.gov/dmhas
• The International Center for Responsible Gaming at www.icrg.org
• The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling at https://ccpg.org/ (Phone number 1-888-789-7777) 

The state also has a voluntary state Self Exclusion Program, where you can ban yourself from gambling for 1 year, 5 years or forever. Your name can’t be removed from the list until the timeframe has elapsed. 

Our Opinion on the Connecticut GCB License

Our experts are very happy with the Connecticut GCB. If we had a dollar for every time we’ve advised players only to play at licensed sites we would be very rich indeed, and the services provided by the Board are the perfect illustration of why we do. 

You just can’t beat the peace of mind with playing on a site that you know has been independently tested for fairness - and that goes for the games, the promotions and how player funds are managed.

One browse around the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division website is enough to show you the level of care and attention paid to how gambling sites operate in the state - from stats and info about gambling revenue, to licensing information and responsible gambling. 

It’s reassuring to know that choosing a licensed site in Connecticut means a co-sign from the state itself. 

Connecticut GCB Casinos FAQs