The Connecticut Lottery Corporation announced it reached an agreement with Rush Street Interactive (RSI) for the Chicago-based online casino operator to serve as CLC’s exclusive provider for online gambling, including operating the lottery’s online sportsbook.
Under the 10-year deal, which still has to be approved by regulators, RSI would guarantee a $170 million minimum revenue share from online and retail sports betting for the Connecticut Lottery.
“[We] are thrilled to welcome RSI to Connecticut, pending the various steps that still need to take place,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, chair of CLC’s board.
Additionally, CLC announced New Haven-based Sportech PLC will offer retail sports betting at 10 of its current locations.
“We are very excited to partner with Sportech to bring retail sports betting to all corners of the state of Connecticut,” Simmelkjaer said. “Their existing locations and licensed staff will allow us to get to market quickly with RSI’s retail offering.”
Simmelkjaer said Sportech also preliminarily agreed not to pursue legal action against the state, which the company threatened to do amid fears a state deal with two Native American tribes could leave the New Haven company out of the newly legal state gambling market.
After the Lottery’s announcement, Sportech released a statement celebrating the deal.
We are primed and ready to establish an operation that includes sports, lottery and pari-mutuel gaming all under one roof and to promote the CLC online platform,” Sportech said. “Our team is very excited to play a key role in this historic moment for the state as sports betting becomes a reality for Connecticut.”
The statute legalizing sports betting in Connecticut allows the Lottery to operate 15 retail sports gambling locations. Simmelkjaer said no decisions have been made as to what company will handle the remaining five, but added the state could contract with Sportstech as a vendor.
Simmelkjaer also noted the Lottery is looking at the XL Center in Hartford as a possible location for a retail sports gambling location.
