[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6369827,"mediaKeyId","2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e","parentId",2154131,"title","Problem‑gambling calls spike after expanded online gaming; council urges prevention, college outreach and stronger treatment funding","audioSeconds",1539,"startMs",9692000,"endMs",11231000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e&start=9692&end=11231","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e/thumbnail_9692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6369827/Connecticut/Problemgambling-calls-spike-after-expanded-online-gaming-council-urges-prevention-college-outreach-and-stronger-treatment-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369827-957787e81099bcb38c3e5180c530d8ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166558&Signature=LcttSSMJAm8AWp5fzGlp369vn81w1NUQKkp7ff68uY9AjP8zbBQxkEK619mSYSD-xBIdOWnLTiXODJzn8ZlatGyaPK7j2YG~Yesd477l2gY1cIyByx~niufkkf9SYSFW0wwavkDmYfD-bjefSkuV6u5a1e9gAxACeeRfy8EKbNB-SMW8F8dWnt7tIBy3dvOp26zCAfKXelcBusPxojLZn7QKei3f9MdM2Gw3O5cyfMubcBC6r-hjb11dDsksF5fQE~NRNL12jKoX9ueCgj5w3wESyvAnyPneL8atlTGEKupxrXkWpnmKry8DY6NbDkUwJcP6~qh0Dya-VJDM3FFPtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CGA - General Law Committee","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling told the General Law Committee that its helpline and prevention programs have seen a measurable shift in callers since online gaming and mobile sports wagering expanded in the state.

Diana Allgood, executive director of the council, said the council’s helpline has seen its call volume rise dramatically: “Since the legalization of online gambling, the calls to our helpline have increased by a 150%,” she said. The council reported callers increasingly include males in their 20s and parents calling on behalf of young adults.

The council described three principal responses: a statewide helpline that connects callers to treatment, a college campus gambling‑prevention initiative aimed at raising awareness among students, and partnerships with tribal operators and other stakeholders to promote responsible play and to direct people to help. Mallory Schultz, the council’s prevention manager, said the campus initiative brings outreach and training to wellness centers, athletic departments and student groups to teach how to spot risky gambling behavior and how to access resources.

The council also described treatment funding streams and the role of the so‑called chronic gamblers’ fund. Allgood and other council staff emphasized that Connecticut has established treatment providers statewide and that funding can be accessed through the fund when insurance does not cover care. The council asked lawmakers to consider additional prevention and treatment resources while continuing partnerships with tribal nations, the lottery and operators.

Why it matters: The demographics of problem‑gambling callers have shifted since online offerings became widely available, and the state’s prevention and treatment systems must scale to meet greater demand. The council urged lawmakers to consider strengthening prevention funding and improving tools to reach at‑risk populations such as college students and young adults.

Committee issues and next steps: Committee members asked the council for historical helpline data and for details on repeat callers, treatment outcomes and coordination with insurance. The council committed to share data, annual reports and program materials with legislators.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","1.27.25 General Law Info Forum on Gaming","oneSentenceSummary","The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling told the General Law Committee that helpline calls rose about 150% since legalization of online gaming; calls increasingly come from young men and from parents seeking help for adult children. The council urged larger prevention investments and described campus‑focused education efforts.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CT, Connecticut","taxId",77677,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6369832,"Connecticut Lottery reports iLottery growth, new retail sportsbooks and steady transfers to general fund",1701,7765000,9466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e&start=7765&end=9466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e/thumbnail_7765000.jpg","/articles/6369832/Connecticut/Connecticut-Lottery-reports-iLottery-growth-new-retail-sportsbooks-and-steady-transfers-to-general-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369832-e06e6b43b29de2d31b0a79d29b2efba9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166558&Signature=AQ5TYDi--LsU~aiM1WsYQyFQ5EaYnH51d4gDO0yHMAuL~UZg01-q6mUSMjCVlzpU8vz7L1oY~RKO~tTS4keFFNWsNOXu8Y6kUIZFinzfLla~GGoEGTh30al5BtfXFFFSDnd~KfNbbmiWRmd~moR5waL0sr~zuWquMGm09-lewpdBcrJeQb2V2~RjCviyqQyBopqru2CBWJ4kEx7g5cs-tSPP-M~eNukZt1BhheHCOYL8DnlkemllnYhazwXz0aDJ23eBUSfbKiNDyHwCD6GUS5si3xZ9pY1a-PPIvLwJ027D2XpG-fB86QPI72BzS9gTKfLWY2RbD690XOVW8lx8EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Frank Suarez, president and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC), told the General Law Committee that the lottery’s 2024 operations included the launch of iLottery and continued growth in sports wagering handled by the agency’s retail and online partnerships.

Suarez said CLC reported $1.7 billion in sales in fiscal 2024, returning $387 million to the state general fund. He said prizes accounted for about 67.6 percent of sales and that the CLC network of more than 2,800 retailers earned roughly $85.3 million in commissions. Suarez described the new gaming system that went live in 2023 as having processed more than 605 million transactions and paid more than $1.3 billion in prizes since deployment.

The CLC launched iLottery on June 10, 2024; Suarez said as of Dec. 31, 2024 the program had about 35,000 registered players and had generated about $5 million in revenue since launch. He also noted constraints in the state’s current compact and statutes: CLC is not authorized to offer interactive instant (\"eInstant\") games online, which Suarez said are among the highest‑revenue lottery products in some other states.

On sports betting, Suarez described new retail locations — including a Fanatics sportsbook at Total Mortgage Arena and a new retail sportsbook at a Norwalk venue — and said sports handled year to date totaled approximately $213 million, up about 62 percent compared with fiscal 2024. Suarez also said CLC contributes $3.3 million annually to the state’s chronic gamblers rehabilitation fund and distributes regulatory funding to DCP.

Suarez emphasized the lottery’s responsible‑gaming initiatives, including partnerships for education and financial counseling for winners (the Wise Winnings program), the “Give a Toy, Not a Ticket” campaign, and a bid to renew World Lottery Association responsible‑gaming certification at the highest level.

Why it matters: The lottery remains a major state revenue source. As online and retail sports wagering expand, the lottery’s product mix and regulatory responsibilities affect both state receipts and the availability of problem‑gambling funding and prevention programs.

Committee issues and next steps: Members questioned how lottery revenue and transfers compare with casino taxes, how the lottery’s gaming system transition affected customers and communications with regulators, and how iLottery and sports offerings could evolve within existing legal constraints. Suarez said staff are reviewing system incidents, improving testing and expanding outreach to restore public confidence.","New Connecticut Lottery CEO Frank Suarez told lawmakers the agency launched iLottery in June 2024, has added retail sportsbook locations with Fanatics, and returned $387 million to the general fund in fiscal 2024; he stressed continued emphasis on responsible gaming and technical integrity of the gaming system.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6369837,"Department of Consumer Protection outlines oversight of expanded gaming, self‑exclusion and enforcement against offshore operators",1626,5754000,7380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e&start=5754&end=7380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e/thumbnail_5754000.jpg","/articles/6369837/Connecticut/Department-of-Consumer-Protection-outlines-oversight-of-expanded-gaming-selfexclusion-and-enforcement-against-offshore-operators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369837-18c948421fadb277f97d6d7b966ff417/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166558&Signature=BaH5~cPRrHK5IEzhK1nCr3JGvmBwS1zXBtuDP68c1YbxlRnh6jaM4OAUg7Pqz6-zlATJVG7GxsHR-Ec45cknFinVn3uUwTvrMYvVAhqhKUWJMWJr4a5ZPMz6kg7tihnLDqubPF48v9PF4Y1PD6lzXRcJXeMw~6wTXt51WNh3AMPCoXC2Yf4BFE3-pk6oSsMcC7V7mbRAex9ORT3Lzo6SpspW~4T1rHIordztxNPbpSzb5rFWu3aGfqGTv9MdD2pqFTc8TUAytAShaao-w1~e4Pdn9z5ZnJ5n7NNsH7Vw8h9DNOJkK~trugJg5Xj8lB2on9k2p0R6kUJd1tyOB92SGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) told the General Law Committee the agency has built a regulatory framework to oversee casino, online and retail sports wagering and is continuing work to police illegal, offshore operators and reduce technical risks to players.

Commissioner Brian Caffarelli and gaming director Chris Gilming described a gaming division that now manages more than 12,000 credentials, audits gross gaming revenue for state contributions, maintains field staff embedded seven days a week at both tribal casinos, and enforces the Connecticut Voluntary Self‑Exclusion List used for sports wagering, iGaming, fantasy contests and iLottery.

“Since the launch of Expanded Gaming in October of 2021, 7,446 people have added themselves to the Connecticut Voluntary Self Exclusion List,” Gilming said. He added the list remains active for many: “As of this morning, there are still 6,239 people taking advantage of this tool.”

DCP outlined how the agency funds staff embedded at tribal properties: the tribes pay assessments that cover the full employment cost of specific DCP positions assigned to on‑site regulation, Gilming said. He also explained the division’s mix of licensing analysts, investigators and auditors, and that DCP’s gaming auditors reconciled contributions totaling more than $730 million to the general fund last fiscal year.

DCP said it is taking a zero‑tolerance approach to unlawful marketing tactics and to illegal online operators that target Connecticut consumers from offshore. Gilming said DCP has sent cease‑and‑desist notices to 18 illegal operators in the past 11–12 months and that the agency has limited remedies when an offending operator is based overseas. “There’s virtually no recourse when it’s an offshore operator,” he said.

Technical safeguards and consumer protections were also a focus. Gilming said DCP updated technical specifications in January to restrict the use of terms such as “free” where gameplay features can require payment, and that the agency is working with operators to make limit‑setting and self‑exclusion features easier to access inside apps. DCP said some platform misconfigurations have occurred since iGaming launch; the agency investigates reports and requires operators to make affected customers whole when errors occur.

Why it matters: DCP is the primary regulator enforcing compliance across the state’s multiple gaming platforms. The committee heard that while the agency can fine and settle with U.S.‑based unlicensed operators, enforcement is harder with offshore sites that can change names and IP addresses quickly. The volume of online transactions and identified offshore sites has increased the workload for state regulators and consumer advocates.

Committee issues and next steps: Lawmakers questioned how self‑exclusion functions at tribal on‑reservation systems vs. state platforms and asked DCP to continue improving technical standards and advertising rules. DCP said planned updates to operator tooling to ease problem‑gambling steps were scheduled for early February.","DCP told lawmakers it manages licensing and field inspection for casinos, iGaming and sports wagering, funds several regulator positions via industry assessments, and has stepped up technical and consumer‑protection rules to address offshore illegal operators and game configuration errors.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6369842,"Mashantucket, Mohegan tell General Law Committee their gaming operations bring jobs, tax revenue and community investment",4343,1403000,5746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e&start=1403&end=5746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154131-2a5a5c6f6bc407f8170c15f5bcd5750e/thumbnail_1403000.jpg","/articles/6369842/Connecticut/Mashantucket-Mohegan-tell-General-Law-Committee-their-gaming-operations-bring-jobs-tax-revenue-and-community-investment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369842-771cc950aa81235d6cacd9bfac4a5ed5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166558&Signature=VYCTE-x-aWhHb2djQIoJKl1H8d6HvD3HXz9tyhBmK58NEX112ghz3l0aRRI72MdmKqFo2vV~i048E6168Y4D7UD-FQMwBpQfEiNJjv5W0uuVL70aYz-U~3Q964d~jdzQq1Kq3bOgA9eOKm589xa5wl97Q1tnNnALwE3h8vy34I04qHP0kfjGrOPJoQ9uzKror~KZUroR~ehuC3JjyOTeSDe~B7FRsOQFQq0jemskafrW8p~UmSdZoCjtIyRQWCeMwLiiiVCRg8H0sXrkqd8BLzFG0eBHgwOMZVCh8rqtOzwmZrhCvl5wT~tzQ0RjMaeaM5ilP8oTYRcTUUUdC8nryw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and leaders from the Mohegan Tribe told the Connecticut General Law Committee on Tuesday that tribal gaming has been a major economic engine for the state and for southeastern Connecticut.

Butler said Foxwoods and the tribe’s online arm, Wonder Nation, have supported infrastructure and jobs for decades and that tribal‑state partnerships have expanded since the tribes and state cooperated to roll out iGaming and mobile sports wagering. “Our sovereign status and the government‑to‑government partnerships we forge with the state have been critical to those results,” Butler said.

The tribal presentations combined economic data, development updates and requests for legislative attention. Butler said Mashantucket Pequot gaming operations have generated what he described as about $4.8 billion in contributions to the state and, combined with the Mohegan Nation, more than $9.4 billion over roughly three decades. He told the committee Foxwoods employs more than 45,100 team members plus tenant and vendor staff on its campus and that the tribe’s annual economic impact exceeds $1 billion. Butler also highlighted a near‑term private sector project adjacent to Foxwoods — the Great Wolf Lodge at Mashantucket — saying the lodge will include a 550‑room hotel, a 91,000‑square‑foot water park and about 600 jobs directly at the lodge when stable operations begin. He said construction spending on that project already topped $200 million.

Mohegan Sun representatives delivered similar figures and community examples. Chuck Bonnell, chief of staff for the Mohegan Tribe, said Mohegan Sun has contributed about $4.5 billion in slot revenue historically and noted recent investments in local infrastructure, including an access road and water projects. Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager, and Rich Roberts, president of Mohegan Digital, described tourism and employment impacts: Mohegan Sun draws roughly 6.5 million guests annually, employs roughly 5,000 people in the state, and the tribe buys more than $250 million in goods and services from Connecticut vendors each year.

Both tribes emphasized responsible‑gaming and treatment funding. Butler described responsible‑gaming tools inside operator apps — limits, cooling‑off periods and self‑exclusion — and said the tribes support research and treatment partners, including grants to academic study of responsible gaming practices. Mohegan leaders described multi‑million‑dollar commitments to problem‑gambling work and to technology that supports interventions.

Both tribal delegations also asked the legislature to clarify protections for tribal sovereignty and to remove what they called threats of “dual taxation” on trust lands. Butler said legislation that clarifies the tribes’ sovereign tax status would reduce uncertainty and support additional tribal and regional investment.

Why it matters: The tribal nations provide a large share of Connecticut’s gaming revenue and have used gaming proceeds to fund regional infrastructure, charitable giving and local employment. The committee — newly assigned to oversee gaming policy — heard both the economic case and the tribes’ policy requests as lawmakers prepare for bills affecting online gaming, taxation, and compacted authority.

Committee next steps: Committee leaders said members may schedule facility visits to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun to see operations and cultural attractions firsthand and signaled the panel will consider multiple gaming proposals this session.","Leaders from the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes described multi‑billion‑dollar economic contributions from casino, online and development projects, and urged lawmakers to protect tribal sovereignty and clarify tax authority as the legislature considers gaming policy changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Problem‑gambling calls spike after expanded online gaming; council urges prevention, college outreach and stronger treatment funding

Connecticut Lottery reports iLottery growth, new retail sportsbooks and steady transfers to general fund

Department of Consumer Protection outlines oversight of expanded gaming, self‑exclusion and enforcement against offshore operators

Mashantucket, Mohegan tell General Law Committee their gaming operations bring jobs, tax revenue and community investment