Connecticut’s Sports Betting Reform Bill Is One Signature Away — AI Betting Ads and Microbets Could Be Banned by July

Connecticut’s legislature sent HB5229, “An Act Concerning Gaming,” to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk after passing it 145-4 in the House and 32-1 in the Senate. If Lamont signs the bill within his 15-day review window, Connecticut will have some of the most comprehensive consumer protection and responsible gambling rules in the country, taking effect July 1, 2026. The bill is a significant update to the state’s 2021 law that legalized online sports betting and casino gaming.

The most consequential provisions for sports bettors involve how operators can use data and technology to market to them. The bill restricts the use of artificial intelligence in sports betting operations, specifically banning platforms from using AI to track individual wagers, design personalized promotions, or create microbets. If you currently receive targeted bonus offers from your sportsbook based on your betting history, that practice would be prohibited under the new rules. The bill also bans direct promotional marketing to self-excluded players or those awaiting withdrawals.

Advertising Restrictions and Consumer Protections

Advertising rules in HB5229 are stricter than any currently in effect at the federal level. Promotions cannot target users under 21, and gambling advertisements inside college athletic venues and on digital platforms controlled by universities would be prohibited. Operators must enforce one account per person, allow customers to set daily deposit and spending caps, and provide a toll-free customer service line. The bill also mandates monthly account statements summarizing deposits, withdrawals, and net wagering activity for all customers.

What Comes Next

Lamont has 15 days to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. Given the overwhelming bipartisan margins, a veto would be politically unusual. The bill also orders a formal state study of prediction markets, signaling that Connecticut regulators plan to engage with the prediction markets debate directly. Connecticut bettors currently use a small number of licensed online sportsbooks. Those looking for what’s available can review our state-by-state sports betting guide or check the Illinois sports betting page to see how another state responded to its regulatory challenges with different policy choices.