As Connecticut issued nine cease-and-desist orders against illegal prediction markets this week, the state's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) highlighted its statewide network of gambling addiction treatment and recovery services for affected residents.
Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli announced the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) actions, which included cease-and-desist orders to nine companies including Polymarket, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Webull, along with nearly 30 subpoenas to gaming service providers and Connecticut media outlets. The platforms are ordered to stop offering sports event contracts to Connecticut residents and allow withdrawal of held funds.
Nancy Navarretta, commissioner of DMHAS, said, "Gambling is a form of entertainment for many, but it is important to remember that all gambling carries risk, and for some, that risk can become a serious problem. DMHAS offers a statewide network of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals and families affected by gambling harm. Anyone concerned about their own gambling, or worried about someone they love, can call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-789-7777 and connect with support."
Lamont said the actions protect vulnerable populations including young people, student athletes, and those suffering from gambling addiction from unregulated gambling markets. The American Gaming Association estimates $40 billion will be wagered on the NFL using prediction markets this year, with one platform reporting nearly $250 million in trading volume on college football alone on the first day of the 2026 season.
Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, said, "Connecticut has worked hard to establish a strong regulatory framework that includes meaningful consumer protections, safeguards for young people, responsible gambling requirements and access to resources for those who may experience harm. We commend Governor Lamont, Commissioner Cafferelli and the Department of Consumer Protection for their continued efforts to ensure that organizations offering gambling opportunities to Connecticut residents are held to those standards."
Prediction markets are known to accept wagers from prohibited bettors, including individuals under the legal betting age of 21 and those on the state's voluntary self-exclusion list, a safeguard designed to protect people managing gambling addiction.
