Researcher: GM Page 1 3/22/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5253
AN ACT CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF GAMING VOLUNTARY
SELF-EXCLUSION RECORDS AND ALLOWING SINGLE -USE
STORED VALUE INSTRUMENTS TO BE USED TO FUND CERTAIN
KENO AND LOTTERY ACCOUNTS.
SUMMARY
This bill allows the use of single-use stored value instruments (e.g.,
gift cards or value vouchers) bought from a lottery sales agent to fund a
person’s online gaming account for playing keno or lottery draw games
through the state lottery’s online platforms. It also generally expands
privacy protections for people participating in voluntary self-exclusion
processes from gaming entities, where a person can choose to limit their
gaming account spending or block themselves from making an account
or placing wagers.
Under current law, the name and personally identifying information
of participants in the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s (CLC’s)
voluntary self-exclusion process are exempt from disclosure under the
Freedom of Information Act. The bill broadens this exemption to
participants in the voluntary self-exclusion processes that must be
established with the gaming services provided by master wagering
licensees (generally CLC and the Mashantuket Pequot and Mohegan
tribes) and their associated licensed online gaming operators, online
gaming service providers, and sports wagering retailers.
However, under current law, CLC may disclose the name and any
relevant records, other than participation in its exclusion process, of a
person who (1) claims a winning online lottery ticket (2) claims or is paid
a winning online or retail sports wager, or (3) is paid a fantasy contest
prize. The bill expands this exception to allow CLC to disclose when
someone wins any lottery ticket. The bill creates an additional exception
to allow the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and CLC to 2022HB-05253-R000077-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 2 3/22/22
disclose the self-exclusion participants’ information to the above
gaming entities as necessary to achieve the purposes of the exclusion
processes. (Under existing regulations, online gaming operators and
sports wagering retailers must submit certain requests for voluntary
self-exclusion to DCP (Conn. Agencies Reg. § 12-865-23).)
Lastly, the bill makes conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 23 Nay 0 (03/08/2022)