Leading sportsbook and iGaming operator Rush Street Interactive has entered into a sports betting partnership with the Connecticut Lottery, joining FanDuel and DraftKings in the state as the third and final skin.
On Thursday, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation announced that it had selected Chicago-based Rush Street as its official sports betting partner following a rigorous evaluation process that kicked off in early June. As the Lottery’s sports wagering partner, RSI will operate 15 retail sportsbooks across the state and also run a statewide mobile betting platform on behalf of the Corporation.
According to the Lottery, 10 of the 15 physical sportsbooks will be set up at existing Sportech venues. The Connecticut gaming law also requires the Lottery to set up retail books in Bridgeport and Hartford, but the CLC is yet to identify the exact locations for the sportsbooks in the two cities. However, there are speculations that the XL Center will host the book in Hartford.
The contract with Rush Street Interactive will run for 10 years, during which the Lottery is set to receive at least $170 million in revenue share from the operator.
RSI Beats 14 Applicants to Win CT Lottery Contract
The CT Lottery Corporation has revealed that RSI’s proposal was selected from a long list of quality bids from well-established gaming operators.
The CLC launched the request for qualifications for a sports betting partner on Apr. 12, with the initial phase of the bidding process closing on Apr. 23. The first stage of the selection process attracted 15 responses, but only five made it to the second phase.
Among the things considered by the Lottery board during the evaluation process include revenue share, responsible gaming policy, customer service, and competency.
In a press release about the partnership, the President and CEO of the CLC, Greg Smith, said:
‘’We look forward to working with the team at Rush Street Interactive. We had 15 quality proposals from well-established gaming companies, and RSI rose to the top through the combination of experience and commitment to quality products, customer service, and responsible gaming safeguards. We’re excited about this partnership and know our players will be getting an excellent product and customer service.’’
The CT Lottery Chairman of the Board, Rob Simmelkjaer, had this to say about the Corporation’s new sports betting partner:
‘’Rush Street Interactive is a respected sports betting and Gaming company that has established itself as a leading innovator in the industry.’’
‘’We are impressed not only with RSI’s successes in other jurisdictions, particularly in Neighboring New York and New Jersey, but also its commitment to responsible gambling practices.’’
Rush Street Interactive is a subsidiary of Rush Street Gaming, and it is the company that operates the BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse brands.
When Will Connecticut Sports Betting Launch?
The targeted date for CT sports betting launch was Sept. 6 initially, but from the look of things it appears that the market might not go live until later in Fall.
Among the hurdles that need to be cleared before a go-live date is selected is the approval of final regulations for operators by the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). Also, the Department of Interior has to sign off on the state’s amended gaming pacts with the Mohegan Indians and Mashantucket Pequot Indians tribes.
The compacts, signed in May this year, allow the two federally recognized Indian tribes to add sports betting and DFS to their offerings, as well operate online casino platforms.
The Mashantucket Pequot Indians will be partnering DraftKings for their fantasy sports and sportsbook operations, while the Mohegan Indians have tapped FanDuel for the offering.
