HARTFORD — State legislators have sent a bill that would expand the crime of cheating to include rigging of sports betting to Gov. Ned Lamont for his final approval.
The legislation is necessary because sports wagering was not contemplated when the cheating statute was originally written in 1998, lawmakers said.
Connecticut legalized sports betting in 2021. The bill would extend the criminal penalties for cheating at casino games, lottery drawings and parimutuel event wagering to match fixing, collusion and disclosure of confidential information for advantage as they relate to sports betting.
Convictions for the felony offense would be punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.
The legislation only applies to wagers and conduct that occurs in Connecticut. The House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday to grant final legislative approval to the Senate Bill 296 amending the 1998 cheating statute. It would expand the definition of cheating to include offering or accepting undue advantages with the intention of improperly altering the outcome of a sports wager. The Senate voted 36-0 to approve the bill April 29.
https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/ct-sports-betting-cheating-rigging-crime-gambling-22243585.php