Connecticut governor pushes for online gaming expansion

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Today, Howard Glaser, Global Head of Government Affairs and Special Initiatives of Scientific Games provided his analysis of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont's push for iGaming and sports betting in the Nutmeg State during his budget address.

"Today in his budget address, Governor Lamont proposed authorizing iLottery, iGaming and sports betting, anticipating $50 million in net revenue to the state beginning in 2022. Connecticut's embrace of on-line gaming and lottery is a large step toward broader adoption of mobile gaming in the United States.

"Forty-four states now have land-based casino gaming and lotteries, and mobile gaming is the logical extension of those programs in a world going digital. The pandemic is accelerating the trend to on-line play.

"If states with traditional casinos and lotteries approve on-line gaming, they would see over $4 billion in new revenue, in addition to sports betting, at a time when statehouses are under tremendous pressure to find new revenue. Consumers are increasingly drawn to play casino games on-line, and Connecticut’s move shows that states are starting to catch up to what their population is demanding."

Online casino and lottery snapshots:

• New Jersey: Internet gaming produced almost $1 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2021, double the prior year, delivering $145 million to state coffers.
• Pennsylvania: Internet casino gaming in December 2020 grew over 700% from the prior year, and the on-line gaming revenue was 20% of all casino revenue in the state for the year.
• iLottery: Pennsylvania generated $1 billion in on-line lottery sales in its first year.