Is Poker Legal in Connecticut? Online & Live Poker Laws in CT

On May 27, 2021, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (Democrat) signed legislation (House Bill 6451) legalizing sports wagering and online gaming, including online poker.

However, while poker is legal in Connecticut, real-money online poker has yet to launch. As of 2025, no licensed operators currently offer real-money poker sites to Connecticut players.

As it stands, the only way to play poker online in Connecticut is through free-to-play poker sites. Live poker remains available at the state’s two major tribal casinos — Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun — which host active poker rooms with daily tournaments and cash games.

In this guide, we’ll explain the current status of poker laws in Connecticut, explore your online and live poker options, and walk through what the future could hold for legal real-money online poker in the state.

Is Poker Legal in Connecticut?

Yes, both online and live poker are legal in Connecticut.

However, while online poker is allowed under Connecticut law, no operators have offered the game thus far. This is likely due to the state’s small population, making the time and investment into an online poker platform less than lucrative.

In 2025, legislation was introduced (SB 1464) that could have led to the addition of Connecticut to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), as the bill allowed the Governor to enter into agreements with online gaming operators "to conduct multijurisdictional Internet gaming for peer-to-peer casino games." However, this bill died in the Chamber.

In the meantime, players can still enjoy live poker at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, two of the largest and most established tribal casinos in the US, both offering a full schedule of cash games and tournaments.

Can I Play Legal Real Money Online Poker in Connecticut?

No, not yet. Although Connecticut legalized online poker in 2021, no licensed real‑money platforms have launched.

Until that changes, your best bet is free-to-play apps, such as the WSOP Social App, Replay Poker, or the GTO Wizard Play mode. These platforms allow you to hone your skills, engage in community play, and enjoy poker strategy, all without risking real money.

Can I Play Legal Live Poker in Connecticut?

Yes, live poker is fully legal and alive in Connecticut, thanks to two of the most iconic poker destinations on the East Coast: Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun.

Foxwoods boasts the largest poker room in the region, with over 50 tables offering everything from low-stakes No-Limit Hold’em to high-limit mixed games.

Just down the road, Mohegan Sun also runs a popular poker room, with dozens of tables and a strong lineup of cash games and daily tournaments.

Both casinos operate under tribal gaming regulations and offer a consistent, regulated, and professionally run poker experience.

Connecticut Gambling Laws - Current Situation

The Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection is responsible for overseeing online gaming, Fantasy Sports, and sports wagering for operators in the state. Both the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe have a long list of rules and regulations they must follow to ensure they’re offering a safe gaming experience.

Summary of Connecticut Gambling & Poker Laws

• Online Gambling – Legislation was passed in 2021 and operations launched the same year.
• Live Poker - Live poker is legal to play at the state’s two Indian casinos
• Casinos - Connecticut currently has two Indian casinos
• Sports Betting - Sports betting hasn’t been legalized yet in Connecticut
• Fantasy Sports - Daily fantasy sports is legal in Connecticut under the Public Act No. 17-2, Paragraphs 649-652
• Esports - Esports betting isn’t available in Connecticut
• Other Gambling Options - State lottery, charitable gambling, pari mutuel wagering.

Connecticut Poker History

Gambling in Connecticut dates back to the 1970s. While charitable gambling had been around since 1939, it did not allow any kind of Vegas-style gambling. The Connecticut Lottery was created in 1971, selling its first ticket a year later. Around that same time, the state also legalized horse racing, jai alai and dog racing betting.

Poker in Connecticut, however, was only legalized in the 1990s. Foxwoods Casino was founded in 1986 as the Mashantucket Pequot Bingo Hall. In 1992, it was rebranded into Foxwoods and added its first table games. That’s when live poker in Connecticut finally became available for residents.

Connecticut then added another poker room when Mohegan Sun Casino opened to business in 1996. Currently, Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino offer the only live poker rooms in Connecticut. The two tribal-owned businesses have also partnered to build a third casino in Connecticut, although the plans are currently halted. Connecticut has a combined total of over 200 poker tables. With over 150 tables, Foxwoods Casino has the largest poker room in the East Coast.

Previously, all forms of online gambling were illegal in the state under the General Statutes of Connecticut Section 53-278a(2), which states all gambling activities are illegal unless specifically authorized. Well, it was specifically authorized when Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 6451 into law on May 27, 2021.

However, before that there were a couple of attempts for online gaming. In 2018, both tribes launched free-play sites, which spurred real-money online gaming talk. The issue didn’t go far that year, but in 2019 a bi-partisan bill, SB 17, was introduced and made it to the Senate floor where it eventually died. In 2020, in a world shut down by the global pandemic, the idea of online gaming finally gained widespread support by both operators and politicians.

House Bill 6451 received strong bipartisan support in both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly (it passed the House by a vote of 122-21 and the Senate by a 28-6 margin), and ultimately came as a result of an agreement the Lamont administration reached with the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe allowing both tribes and the Connecticut Lottery Corp. to offer online gaming and sports wagering.

As referenced earlier, while online poker is allowed under Connecticut law, no operators have offered the game thus far. New legislation which would have allowed the state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) was unsuccessful in 2025. The issue will have to be revisited in 2026.

Play Legal Real Money Poker in Connecticut

Real-money poker is legal in Connecticut, but only live games are available. Online players must stick to free-to-play sites until regulated platforms launch.

How to Play Legal Online Poker in Connecticut

While no real-money poker platforms are live yet, Connecticut players can still enjoy online poker through free-to-play options. Try the WSOP Social App for virtual tournaments and Sit & Gos, Replay Poker for a classic browser-based experience, or GTO Wizard Play mode to practice advanced tactics. These are all fully legal and fun to play.

Play at Legal Live Poker Rooms in Connecticut

Connecticut has two big tribal casinos in Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. The two combines for a respectable total of 200-plus poker tables available for players in the state. The poker room at Foxwoods Casino is, in fact, the largest poker room in the East Coast with over 150 tables. Despite Connecticut having a small population, they actually have a robust poker scene.

Both rooms have a long and storied history in poker and could foreseeably be used to market an online poker platform. Whether the casinos go that route remains to be seen though as neither are currently offering online poker.

Mohegan Sun Poker Room – Uncasville, CT

Mohegan Sun is one of the premier live poker destinations in the Northeast. Located in Uncasville, Connecticut, this popular poker room attracts a steady mix of recreational grinders and seasoned pros, not just from nearby Boston and New York, but from across the country.

The resort itself offers everything you’d expect from a top-tier casino: a luxury hotel tower, dozens of dining options, nightlife, shopping, and a massive gaming floor. But for many visitors, poker is the main attraction.

Mohegan Sun spreads a variety of cash games daily, with No-Limit Hold’em as the most popular format. Players can also find Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold’em, and regular tournament action, all in a professionally run room with comfortable seating and a welcoming atmosphere.

Foxwoods Poker Room – Mashantucket, CT

Located in Mashantucket, the Foxwoods Poker Room is one of the largest and longest-running poker rooms on the East Coast. Housed inside the expansive Foxwoods Resort Casino, the room features nearly 100 live-action tables, offering everything from No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha to Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, and mixed games.

Foxwoods has long been a major draw for serious cash game players and tournament grinders, operating daily from 9 AM to 1 AM Sunday through Thursday, and until 4 AM on weekends. The room is non-smoking and well-appointed, with massage chairs, hand-sanitizing stations, and phone chargers at the tables.

Cash games run across a range of stakes, with Hold’em games typically spread nine-handed and Stud games eight-handed. Whether you’re a low-stakes regular or a high-limit specialist, Foxwoods offers one of the most complete live poker experiences in the region.

Are WSOP or WPT Events Offered in Connecticut?

Both the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and World Poker Tour (WPT) have hosted live poker events in Connecticut.

The WSOP Circuit first visited Foxwoods in 2013 and has been a familiar stop ever since. While no WSOP gold bracelet has ever been awarded in Connecticut, hundreds of coveted gold rings have. Among those to capture gold rings at Foxwoods over the years are Alex “Chapo” Jim, Kevin “BeL0WaB0Ve” Saul, and even Allen Kessler, who won the 2014 WSOP Circuit Foxwoods $1,700 Main Event for $170,031.

As for the WPT, Foxwoods was actually one of their first stops. In Season 1 (2002-03), the WPT hosted the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods. That tournament was won by Howard Lederer, while Hoyt Corkins would win the same tournament one year later. Foxwoods hosted WPT events each year until 2011, and while it’s been more than a decade since the tour visited the property, they have a long history to draw upon if and when they’re ever brought back to the East Coast casino.

Connecticut Poker Legality FAQs