Taking time out of his weekly Monday COVID-19 update on March 22, Governor Ned Lamont pivoted to a conversation on the recent gaming agreement reached between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes.

Ironically announced during the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling Awareness Month of March, the governor and Rob Simmelkjaer, chair of the Connecticut Lottery, praised the modernization of gambling in Connecticut through gaming options such as sports wagering, online casino gaming, and an expanded lottery, saying the agreement could bring in $10 million in new revenue.

There remain challenges in “getting it done,” Simmelkjaer said, but the “once in a lifetime pact” makes the state competitive. He noted three positive points to the agreement, one being that the Connecticut Lottery could sell lottery tickets online; second, that Connecticut would then operate one of three online betting platforms; and third, that the agreement could launch up to 15 retail sports betting locations. Simmelkjaer expressed excitement about the retail opportunities that would provide entertainment as well as job opportunities.

The agreement still needs legislation drafted and passed, Simmelkjaer said, adding that time is of the essence to try to get the products to market. Regulations will also need to be created before taking bets, he noted.

In a nod to gambling addiction, the Connecticut Lottery chair expressed an awareness of a need for resources to assist what he defined as “a small percentage of people who will struggle with online gambling.” The good news, he said, is that the online nature “makes it easier to identify and help people who run into trouble,” than does a cash business.

According to the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling in 2019, 1.5 to 2 percent of the state’s population has a gambling disorder, with another eight percent at risk.

Overall, Simmelkjaer said, the agreement boded well as “great news” for Connecticut taxpayers.