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Online Poker in Connecticut 2025 – Legal Status and Best Sites
The Constitution State has a quite simple gambling landscape. Technically, Connecticut has legalized online poker. However, practically, you won’t be able to find a site offering poker games. So, overall, to engage in online poker in Connecticut for real money, players can do nothing but join offshore sites. Let’s have a quick peek at the current laws related to the state’s poker and discover all the best poker sites for CT poker players.
Best online poker sites for Connecticut residents in 2025
Even though Connecticut has officially legalized online poker within its state, at the moment, there are no platforms and gaming operators providing real-cash poker games for local players. And it seems there are no exact timelines on when the state is planning to launch the first poker platforms and which operators will include this game type among their offerings.
As such, the best options for players from Connecticut remain offshore poker sites that work independently from the state and are free to offer real-money games to users worldwide, including the US.
We’ve carefully reviewed multiple operators based on their reputation, security, quality of games, bonus terms, and payout policy, and came up with a list of top platforms that have a clean track record and positive reviews from real players.
| CT poker site | Bonuses | Rakeback |
|---|---|---|
| BetOnline Poker | 100% up to $1,000 | VIP |
| ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | 27% flat or up to 65% |
| Ignition Poker | up to $3,000 | up to 20% |
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | 33%+ |
| Phenom Poker | 150% up to $3,000 | 15-35% |
Benefits of our affiliate service:
- Top rakeback deals.
- Professional support for all inquiries seven days a week.
Reach our team to find out more information:
ACR Poker
ACR Poker is the largest online poker room in the United States. For players from Connecticut, it offers one of the strongest mutli-table tournament schedules: series guarantees reach $50 million, and individual tournaments, such as The Venom, offer up to $8 million.
The ring game lobby offers Texas Hold'em and Omaha PL tables with stakes up to $100/$200. Rare formats include 7-Card Stud and AoF.
The first deposit bonus is 100% up to $2,000. The loyalty program offers two options: a fixed rakeback of 27% or a progressive rakeback of up to 65%.
Deposits and withdrawals are made in cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT, LTC).
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is an offshore blockchain-based crypto platform available to players in Connecticut. Its key features include complete anonymity and no mandatory verification. The platform uses a decentralized random number generator (RNG).
Cash games include NLH, PLO, and PLO5 with limits up to $200/$400. Most traffic is concentrated at 7-max tables, but heads-up and 4-max tables are also available. Multi-table tournaments are held daily with buy-ins from freerolls up to $5,000, and guarantees for top events reach $100,000.
The welcome bonus is 150% up to $2,000. Players receive 33% rakeback every Monday. Rake races are available for active players.
Deposits and withdrawals are processed exclusively in cryptocurrency. All games are played in USDT.
Phenom Poker
Phenom Poker is a young offshore poker site licensed in Costa Rica, open to players from CT. Despite its relatively new platform, it boasts a large team of professional players, including Brian Rast, Viktor Blom, and Dan Cates. Ambassadors regularly play at high limits.
Phenom Poker's main features:
- The game is available exclusively through the browser client, with no software download required.
- The lobby features numerous tables and tournaments in rare poker formats, including mixed games.
The bonus program includes a welcome package of 150% up to $3,000, loyalty program with 15-35% rakeback and The Grind Prix Leaderboard.
Our ranking criteria for choosing the best CT online poker sites
When it comes to offshore betting sites for poker, the majority of them follow the same regulatory framework and operate with the same technical requirements. However, not all are equal in terms of safety, game selection, traffic and promotions.
At Worldpokerdeals, we carefully review each site we recommend to our readers. We use an effective evaluation algorithm to decide if a certain poker site meets the basic criteria for a relaxed and secure gaming experience. The key points we take into account include the following:
- First of all, a poker site must be available for Connecticut residents.
- License: it’s the first thing we look for when reviewing a site. A reliable platform should have a credible license from a well-known gaming authority, like the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curaçao Gaming Control Board.
- Background: the experience and past track record of a betting platform are crucial points to consider. We check how long the website has been in the industry, what reputation it has among players, and how it solves the problems of players.
- Security: to be on our list of recommended platforms, a site should have a well-developed security policy with all essential safety measures and mechanics. This covers encryption technologies, safe payment solutions, transparent games, responsible gaming tools, and so on.
- Cashier: we also check the payment gateways offered on a site. We mainly focus on the deposit and withdrawal options suitable for Connecticut players.
- Games and traffic: we check the quantity of available poker games and also the consistency of user traffic to be sure players can always find something new and interesting to play.
Is online poker legal in Connecticut?
Generally, yes, online poker is legal in Connecticut, but there are still no licensed gaming platforms that are active and offer poker games. In 2021, the state legalized online gaming, including poker, after passing House Bill 6451. At the same time, the government updates its gambling agreements with the two tribal gaming operators of the state. These include Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots.
Thus, in Connecticut, online poker is limited to just two operators, and only the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes have exclusive rights to run it. In practice, this means no more than two potential poker sites, but as of 2025 neither tribe’s partner (DraftKings for Foxwoods, FanDuel for Mohegan Sun) has launched a real-money poker platform. DraftKings’ “Electric Poker” product is currently under regulatory review.
According to the law, to sit at the tables, you need to be 21 or older and physically inside Connecticut when playing for real cash. What is still up in the air is whether local sites will ever link up with poker rooms in other states, since the law doesn’t really touch on shared player pools. The current prohibition on shared liquidity is seen as the main obstacle, and a new bill (SB 1464, 2025) seeks to let Connecticut join interstate poker compacts such as MSIGA.
When Connecticut brought in online poker, it also laid down some extra ground rules to make the gaming industry fair and secure. These cover player protection, data safety, licensing, and responsible play.
| Type of Gambling | Is Eligible? |
|---|---|
| Online Poker | ✅ Legal, but no licensed sites launched |
| Land-based Poker | ✅ Legal (available at tribal casinos) |
| Online Casino | ✅ Legal and active (FanDuel, DraftKings) |
| Land-based Casinos | ✅ Legal (Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods) |
| Sports Betting | ✅ Legal and active |
| Lottery | ✅ Legal (limited online offerings) |
| Charitable Gambling (Bingo, Raffles) | ✅ Legal under regulation |
| Sweepstakes and Social Poker | ✅ Legal |
| Offshore Poker Sites | ⚠️ Not regulated / legal gray area |
Sweepstakes poker – legal alternative
The most real option for Connecticut players to enjoy online poker is sweepstakes sites. Sweepstakes poker is based on free virtual coins instead of real money. It takes advantage of a legal workaround that allows poker to be offered as long as players aren’t betting cash directly.
There are two types of coins involved. The first ones are Gold Coins that are just for fun, as you can’t cash them out. The next option is Sweepstakes Coins. You can use these coins in games and tournaments, and later swap them for real money or gift cards. You don’t actually buy Sweeps Coins either, as they come as freebies or bundled with Gold Coin packages.
Future of online poker in CT
No one really knows when Connecticut will see its first online poker site. At the moment, neither of the state’s two licensed casinos seems ready to launch poker anytime soon.
Things can change, however, if regulators let Connecticut join multi-state player-sharing deals. In this case, real-money online poker will not be too far off. At the moment, the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) includes such states as Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Delaware. In case Connecticut joins this agreement, operators like BetGMG and PokerStars can launch and connect netizens to bigger national pools.
Payment methods
As there are no poker platforms in the state yet, you can play only at offshore sites and make transactions using their payment solutions. Most online poker rooms offer such banking methods as e-wallets, bank transfers, credit/debit cards, crypto coins, and vouchers.
The transaction speed and limits differ from one option to another and are also connected with the site’s payment policy.
For players in Connecticut, the most popular transaction option is crypto, as it has wider accessibility, and restrictions are almost zero. Plus, transactions through cryptocurrencies are almost fee-free.
Live poker in Connecticut
For playing live poker within Connecticut, you have two options to consider: Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun. Both venues feature regular tournaments daily and operate on a full scale.
Foxwoods poker room runs 54 tables with all kinds of live games, from Hold’em and Stud to No-Limit and Pot-Limit, plus High-Limit tables for serious players. They come with weekly tournaments and special events, and the dealers are some of the best around. Stud and Hold’em fans can even go for Bad Beat Jackpots.
Mohegan Sun has a 30+ table poker room with several poker variants, including cash games, bounty tournaments, and mixed formats like Badugi, Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, etc. These games are perfect for both newcomers and skilled gamers.
How to play poker online in Connecticut: step by step
There are no legal poker sites within the state of Connecticut, yet. In the future, to play at regulated platforms, you’ll need to be physically located within the state. However, as for now, the only option that lets you engage in online poker is offshore poker rooms when it comes to real-money play.
Getting started with these sites is quite easy and challenge-free. Just follow the simple algorithm below and play real-cash poker right away.
- Visit the website: head to your chosen online room’s main page (make sure it accepts players from Connecticut).
- Register an account: create a user profile on the site, giving all the needed info, like your name, country, email, etc.
- Download and install the poker client: if you want to play poker on the go, just download the mobile app.
- Verify your account (KYC): to access all the available poker games and play for real cash, verify your account beforehand.
- Deposit: next, add some money to your account balance.
- Choose a game: Select a table with your preferred game and begin playing.
Don't forget to play responsibly and stick to the bankroll management strategies.
History of gambling in Connecticut
The history of gambling in Connecticut has greatly evolved over the last centuries. What was once a strict prohibition now has quite wide freedom. Here is a general overview of key points in history.
- 1939: Connecticut started charitable bingo to raise money for religious groups and local charities.
- 1955: Raffles and bazaars came to the scene and let people try their luck.
- 1971: Governor Thomas J. Meskill signed Public Act No. 865 and set up the Connecticut Lottery.
- 1972: The lottery started to appear in several locations, with money going to education and charities.
- 1976: Off-track betting (OTB) became legal for jai alai and horse racing, with jai alai venues opening in Bridgeport and Hartford.
- 1987: “Sealed tickets” were introduced, which gave game players a chance to win prizes through lucky combinations.
- 1992: Connecticut made agreements with the Mohegan Tribes and Mashantucket Pequot and opened the doors for Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun.
- 2018: PASPA, the federal law stopping states from offering sports betting, was overturned.
- 2021: Sports betting finally became legal in Connecticut, online and in shops.
Famous poker players from Connecticut
TOP-5 Connecticut All Time Money List:
- Stephen Song — $10,9М+
- David Stefanski — $2,8М+
- Ryan Eriquezzo — $ 2,7М+
- Stanley Lee — $2,5М+
- Paul Darden — $2,3М+
Stephen Song has earned almost as much in live tournaments as the other four players on the Top-5 Connecticut All-Time Money List combined.
He was born in 1995 in New York City. At the age of two, he moved to London with his family, and at seven, he returned to the United States, to Connecticut. Stephen was introduced to poker at the age of 10, watching the WSOP Main Event broadcast with his father.
Song later dropped out of college to pursue poker. His first major live success came in 2018: he earned $138,254 for sixth place in the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship.
Interestingly, two of Stephen's biggest career wins occurred outside the United States:
- In 2024, he won the ME EPT in Barcelona for $1,425,651,
- In 2025, he took first place in the TLPT Super High Roller Series Main Event in Jeju, South Korea for $750,000.
Song won his only WSOP bracelet in a $1K event in 2019. His 2022 WPT victory earned him the Triple Crown title.
Conclusion
Connecticut’s online poker scene is still in its early stages. While the state has legalised real-money poker under House Bill 6451 (2021), no licensed platforms are live yet. For now, residents rely on offshore poker sites or sweepstakes platforms like Global Poker.
As for tribal casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are the only licensed venues in the state. However, they still don't offer online poker among their games. So, players just need to wait until the state makes new amendments to the law or when these platforms start providing poker.
Responsible Gambling
When playing poker, always do it responsibly. Make sure you are not getting addicted and set limits on money and time. Follow basic responsible gaming rules to keep the balance for a safer experience, and in case you need professional support, get in touch with one of these organizations for help.
- Gamblers Anonymous (U.S.) – https://gamblersanonymous.org/
- National Council on Problem Gambling (U.S.) – https://www.ncpgambling.org
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