Department Of Consumer Protection (DCP)

Table of Contents

Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)

All gambling activities in Connecticut are overseen by the gaming division of the Department of Consumer Protection. The state permits sports betting, casinos, and lottery operations, and online gambling became legal starting Tuesday, October 19, 2021. However, the ability to obtain a gambling license is limited to the Connecticut Lottery and two tribes—the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.

On March 18, 2021, the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes reached an agreement with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to modernize the state’s gambling offerings, which included the introduction of online gambling. Before this, casino gambling was restricted to two well-known land-based casinos: Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun, both operated by the tribes.

Note:
Connecticut became the sixth state to legalize online casino gaming with the launch of two online casinos: DraftKings Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino.

Complaints and disputes

If a player encounters an issue with an online gaming operator, they should first contact the operator directly and follow the complaint process outlined on the operator’s website. If the issue remains unresolved through this process, players can reach out to the DCP Complaint Center to file a complaint. Complaints can be submitted online, or players can download a form and send it via email to dcp.complaints@ct.gov, or by mail to the address provided below.

Responsible Play CT

The DCP, in partnership with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling and other organizations, has created a dedicated responsible gambling website, Responsible Play CT. This website aims to offer information, tips, and resources to help prevent excessive gambling.

The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling also offers extensive resources on its website and provides access to trained Helpline Specialists who connect individuals to free, immediate support and treatment options available in Connecticut.

Moreover, online gambling operators are required by law to implement several responsible gambling and advertising measures:

The time spent by a player on gambling activities must be prominently displayed.
All advertisements must include a responsible gambling message with the following text: “If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call (888) 789-7777 or text ‘CTGAMB’ to 53342.”
Players must have the option to take a break from gambling at any time.
A link to information about responsible gambling must be provided.

Self-Exclusion

The DCP also offers a Gaming Self-Exclusion program, enabling players to voluntarily exclude themselves from all legalized gaming activities in the state for a duration of one year, five years, or for a lifetime. To participate, players must first read and agree to the Connecticut Gaming Self-Exclusion Terms and Conditions before completing the Self-Exclusion Registration.

Once a player is added to the exclusion list, the exclusion cannot be canceled until the designated time period has passed. Even after that, the player must formally request to be removed from the register.