Connecticut Looks to Join MSIGA w/ Online Poker Bill; Public Hearing Held
Connecticut lawmakers held a public hearing on Wednesday to consider a bill that would give the governor the authority to join other states in an online poker compact.
Senate Bill 1464, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Tony Scott, would allow Gov. Ned Lamont "to enter into agreements for the purpose of authorizing online gaming operators to conduct multijurisdictional Internet gaming for peer-to-peer casino games."
In addition to allowing Connecticut to enter an online poker compact like the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), SB 1464 would make a number of revisions to sports betting and online gambling in the Constitution State.
Connecticut, which has a population of 3.7 million, legalized online poker in 2021 with a bill that also legalized sports wagering and online gaming. However, no poker operators have launched in Connecticut since then.
MSIGA currently includes Nevada, Michigan, Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia. Pennsylvania lawmakers are also currently looking at joining the poker compact.
Public Hearing Held for Poker Bill
Several stakeholders and industry leaders spoke both in favor and against the bill in Wednesday's General Law Committee public hearing, including DraftKings Government Affairs Manager David Prestwood.
"DraftKings would like to state its support for the provision authorizing the Governor to enter into multijurisdictional agreements for peer-to-peer casino gaming," Prestwood said. "It is our hope that Connecticut will join the other members of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement to provide better gaming options for Connecticut residents and increase gaming revenue for the state."
The bill also has the support of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling. In a written statement, executive director Diana Goode said that a provision requiring online gambling providers to establish and publicize a toll-free customer service number "is a vital improvement that will have an immediate and positive impact on our Helpline."
Michael Ventre, Senior Manager State Government Relations for FanDuel, spoke against the bill but said FanDuel would support it with a few language modifications regarding improper wagers, noting that "the way that the bill is written, the verbiage of the bill is too broad."
"First, FanDuel is supportive of the provision authorizing the Governor to enter into agreements with other states for multi-jurisdictional Internet games such as poker," Ventre told Connecticut lawmakers on Wednesday. "We thank the committee on moving on this provision, with one ask that language be put into place to include territories outside the United States, like Canada, which is seeking to join the gaming compact."
Several other states are considering online poker legislation this year, including Massachusetts, Indiana, Maryland and New York. In January, PokerNews spoke with New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. about his efforts to bring online poker to the state's 20 million residents.
Head to YouTube to watch the full public hearing.
Disclosure: FanDuel and PokerStars are both owned by Flutter International, which also owns PokerNews.
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