Hartford, CT – The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division is dismantling illegal gambling operations, confiscating machines, and warning consumers about financial and security risks.
“These illegal machines pose a significant risk to communities, and we will be confiscating any illegal machines found by our investigators,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli.
According to the DCP, state law permits electronic gaming machines only at Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino.
Any machines outside these venues are unlawful, operating without oversight, consumer protections, or age restrictions, officials said.
A machine seized by DCP collected $191,359 but returned only 66 percent of that amount to players. Legal slot machines and online casino games must pay back at least 80 percent over time.
In 2024, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, and their iGaming partners DraftKings and FanDuel returned more than 94.6 percent to users, according to state data.
“These machines might look like those available at the Tribal Casinos and online gaming operators, but are often crudely manufactured, 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,” said DCP Gaming Director Kris Gilman.
According to the officials, the machines are designed to drain funds with no guarantee of fair play.
Unlike licensed casinos, which must undergo rigorous testing and compliance checks, illegal gambling devices operate in the shadows, their algorithms opaque, their payouts unverified.
In December 2024, DCP investigators confiscated six machines and $900 in cash from four locations. More seizures are expected as enforcement continues.
“Anyone with knowledge of an illegal machine is asked to make a report to the department so that enforcement action can be taken against the operator of the illegal machine,” Gilman said.
He added, “Consumers who have placed wagers on illegal machines are not the target of this investigation.”
Officials encourages residents to gamble only through state-regulated casinos and licensed online platforms.
Consumers can report illegal gaming machines by emailing DCP.Gaming@ct.gov.
For gambling addiction support, the Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming provides confidential assistance 24/7 at 1(888) 789-7777 or www.ccpg.org.
Self-exclusion programs are available at ct.gov/selfexclusion.
