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The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division is intensifying efforts to combat illegal gambling machines, which pose a serious threat to consumers.
These unregulated devices are designed to take advantage of players, offering little to no consumer protection and significantly worse odds than legally sanctioned alternatives.
Illegal Machines Operating Outside Regulated Casinos
In Connecticut, electronic slot machines are permitted exclusively at Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino.
Any machines operating outside of these venues are illegal and put consumers at risk. Unlike regulated gaming platforms, these illicit machines lack age restrictions, expose users’ personal and financial information to potential fraud, and fail to meet fair payout requirements.
A recent investigation by DCP uncovered just how unfair these machines can be.
One confiscated device had collected a staggering $191,359 while only paying out 66% of the money wagered, a figure that is far below the state-mandated minimum of 80% for regulated gaming.
By contrast, licensed slot machines and online casino games at Connecticut’s two tribal casinos returned more than 94.6% of wagers to players in 2024.
Ongoing Enforcement and Seizures
The DCP Gaming Division confiscated six illegal machines and $900 in cash from four locations in December.
Enforcement actions will continue throughout the coming months as authorities work to remove these unlawful devices from communities.
“They Are Designed to Take Your Money”
“If you choose to gamble, it is critical to do it on a legal, licensed platform, whether that’s at one of our state’s two casinos, or through the licensed and regulated online gaming platforms,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli.
“These illegal machines pose a significant risk to communities, and we will be confiscating any illegal machines found by our investigators. Thank you to our team who works hard day in and day out to ensure the integrity of gaming in our state.”, Cafferelli added.
DCP Gaming Director Kris Gilman explained illegal machines “might look like those available at the Tribal Casinos and online gaming operators, but are often crudely manufactured.”
Gilman added the machines “typically return far less than the law requires of regulated machines and pose a significant risk to consumers who have no recourse in the event of a malfunction or failure to pay out.”
“Put simply, they are designed to take your money,” he further highlighted.
The DCP encourages anyone with knowledge of illegal gambling machines to report them by emailing [email protected].
The investigation will not target consumers who have placed wagers on these machines, as enforcement efforts are strictly focused on those operating the devices.
Last November, a Connecticut resident sued VGW, one of the biggest sweepstakes operators in the U.S., accusing the company of illegally operating their online gambling platform and constantly encouraging them to play.
One year ago, a comprehensive study revealed that while only 10% of Connecticut residents engage in sports wagering or online gaming, the Constitution State still faces gambling addiction issues.
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