Connecticut Passes Two Sports Betting Integrity Bills Into Law

Connecticut has long been one of the more friendly states for bettors. Its new sports betting integrity laws should further strengthen that reputation.

Connecticut governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 296 and House Bill 5229 into law, instituting penalties for match-fixing in Connecticut and adding more protections for sports bettors. Those protections come in the form of requiring sportsbooks to add a toll-free number so bettors can reach a live person for issues with their wagers.

With the rise of sports betting, fears of match fixing and point shaving have long been a worry of sports fans. In November 2025, Major League Baseball pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on charges that they had colluded with gamblers to throw balls instead of strikes on certain pitches. That resulted in gamblers winning hundreds of thousands of ill-gotten dollars.

SB 296 takes aim at that and other forms of cheating by adding penalties for violators. Under SB 296, a person who engages in match fixing or collusion in Connecticut can face a fine of $5,000 and prison for up to five years.

Why Did Connecticut Add Sports Betting Integrity Bills?

Connecticut has long had an anti-cheating statute on its books. However, the statute was written in 1998, long before sports betting was a reality in the Nutmeg State. Because of that, Connecticut had no penalties in place for violations regarding sports betting or iGaming, neither of which existed at the time.

SB 296 changes that. It updates the statutes to allow for penalties, bringing Connecticut’s laws in line with modern requirements. It also adds penalties for allowing anyone not of legal age to open an account. Under SB 296, allowing anyone underage to hold an account is a Class C misdemeanor. Under Connecticut law, that carries penalties of a $500 fine and up to three months in jail.

While Democrats in Connecticut hold a veto-proof majority, it wasn’t necessary in this case. Nobody in either chamber of the Connecticut General Assembly voted against the bill.

How Does House Bill 5229 Help Bettors?

HB 5229 focuses on improving sports betting integrity by making it easier for bettors to get help. Connecticut has three legal sportsbooks: Fanatics, FanDuel and DraftKings. All three offer online chat support, but with the rise of AI, bettors have been worried that they can’t reach a real person for assistance.

In many cases, online chat support is available 24 hours a day. But without a real person on the line, it can often be unhelpful and leave bettors without a clear solution. Under HB 5229, sportsbooks must provide a toll-free number where bettors can reach a real person for help.

That represents a change for FanDuel and DraftKings, which push online support above all else. Fanatics has a toll-free number in place, while DraftKings allows bettors to leave a voicemail and FanDuel doesn’t display a phone number at all. HB 5229 requires that the number both be active and visible in all future advertisements in Connecticut.

The bill adds one other provision to attack problem gambling: it bans sportsbook advertisements on college campuses. Specifically, the legislation bans sportsbook advertisements from any place where the majority of patrons are presumed to be under 21 years of age.

Will Gaming Operators Agree to the Legislation?

Most likely, yes. Even though the new sports betting integrity laws represent changes for DraftKings and FanDuel, both will likely go along with them. Connecticut’s location and proximity to New York, which doesn’t allow iGaming, means that it’s a desirable market for sportsbook and iGaming operators.

Many residents of New York City can reach the Connecticut state line in less than an hour, giving FanDuel and DraftKings’ casinos easy access to these players.

The law was written to be “effective from passage”. The state also has the ability to notify gaming operators at any time that modifications are necessary. That likely means toll-free numbers in Connecticut will arrive soon.