Researcher: GM Page 1 5/4/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5253 (as amended by House “A”)*
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. Under the bill, only cash or
debit cards may be used to purchase these instruments.
The bill also generally expands privacy protections for people
participating in voluntary self-exclusion processes from gaming entities.
These protections allow people to 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 (FOIA). The bill extends this exemption to
participants in the voluntary self-exclusion processes that (1) must be
established with the gaming services provided by master wagering
licensees (generally CLC and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan
tribes) and their associated licensed online gaming operators, online
gaming service providers, and sports wagering retailers and (2) must be
regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). (Under
existing regulations, the department must create and maintain a
voluntary self-exclusion list, and online gaming operators and sports
wagering retailers must submit certain requests for voluntary self-
exclusion to DCP (Conn. Agencies Reg. § 12-865-23).) 2022HB-05253-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 2 5/4/22
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 DCP and CLC to disclose the self-exclusion
participants’ information to the above gaming entities as necessary to
achieve the purposes of the exclusion processes.
Lastly, the bill makes conforming changes.
*House Amendment “A” (1) limits how single-use stored value
instruments may be purchased to cash and debit cards only and (2)
extends its FOIA exemptions to the voluntary self-exclusion process
created by DCP.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 23 Nay 0 (03/08/2022)
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 18 Nay 0 (04/13/2022)