The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) received 15 Request for Qualifications (RFQ) responses for sports betting by its April 23 deadline. The CLC issued an RFQ on April 12, 2021, from qualified and experienced sports betting solution providers for online and retail sports wagering systems and services. The original RFQ can be viewed at: https://ctlottery.org/PublicSolicitations.
“We are pleased to see significant interest from companies who would like to partner with the CLC to bring our online and retail sports betting offering to market,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, Chairman of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation. “Our staff and board will now begin a process of carefully reviewing the qualifications of the submitting parties as we work towards choosing the right partner in this important initiative for our state.”
The CLC expects to be authorized to conduct online and retail sports wagering in Connecticut through the use of contracted agents and vendors. This expectation is based on an agreement reached between the Governor and both of Connecticut’s tribal nations, pending bills before the legislature, and inclusion in the Governor’s budget bill. The online channel is expected to be offered through an online and mobile platform, and the retail channel is expected to be operated in up to 15 retail locations, including at least one, each, in Hartford and Bridgeport.
The CLC will issue invitations for presentations of qualified responses on April 26, 2021, and finalists will be chosen for submission of formal business plans under the tentative timeline provided. Due to the confidential nature of the RFQ process, and the need for full legislation to come forth from the Connecticut General Assembly, the CLC will not release any further information at this time.