Connecticut Lottery Partner Fanatics Sportsbook Opens Retail Shop In Bridgeport

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) and Fanatics Betting and Gaming further cemented their new partnership on Monday with the opening of a new physical sportsbook location at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The Fanatics Sportsbook serves as the CLC’s exclusive sports betting partner for mobile and retail betting, and is among the three licensed sportsbook outfits available in the state, alongside national leaders FanDuel and DraftKings.

The CLC had originally partnered with Rush Street Interactive for its sportsbook but announced in March 2023 that the parties would wind down the partnership, setting the stage for Fanatics to launch in December 2023.

For this physical location in Bridgeport, which is home to the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League, the sportsbook venue is “more than 2,300 square feet and features betting windows, self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp, and high-definition TVs situated all around the sportsbook,” according to the news release.

Upgrading the experience

Launching the new Total Mortgage Arena Fanatics Sportsbook has been another push by Fanatics to make its presence felt in a jurisdiction where, as in most, the duopoly of FanDuel and DraftKings has scooped most of the action.

For the month of February 2024, FanDuel, operating in partnership with the Mohegan tribe, took $79.6 million in wagers while DraftKings and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation saw $63.4 million, and Fanatics alongside the CLC handled $12.4 million.

Still just four months after taking the baton from Rush Street, Fanatics is working on upgrading the 10 other existing sportsbook storefronts with new signage, enhanced odds screens, and brand-new self-service betting kiosks. The CLC sportsbooks are located in the following establishments:

• The XL Center in Hartford
• Bobby V’s in Stamford and Windsor Locks
• Sports Haven in New Haven
• Winners in Hartford, Manchester, Milford, New Britain, and Waterbury

Patrons wanting to check out the new retail book can go to Total Mortgage Arena near the main parking garage entrance at the site of the former Limerick Pub. The store will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, including days with arena events, like Bridgeport Islanders games.