Connecticut § 52-554 Recovery of money lost in gaming.

Connecticut Statutes

§ 52-554 — Recovery of money lost in gaming.

Connecticut § 52-554

Title 52Civil Actions

Ch. 924Wagering Contracts

This text of Connecticut § 52-554 (Recovery of money lost in gaming.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-554 (2026).

Text

Any person who, by playing at any game, or betting on the sides or hands of such as play at any game, excluding any game permitted under chapter 226 or any activity not prohibited under the provisions of sections 53-278a to 53-278g, inclusive, loses the sum or value of one dollar in the whole and pays or delivers the same or any part thereof, may, within three months next following, recover from the winner the money or the value of the goods so lost and paid or delivered, with costs of suit in a civil action, without setting forth the special matter in his complaint. If the defendant refuses to testify, if called upon in such action, relative to the discovery of the property so won, the defendant shall be defaulted; but no evidence so given by the defendant shall be offered against him or 

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Any person who, by playing at any game, or betting on the sides or hands of such as play at any game, excluding any game permitted under chapter 226 or any activity not prohibited under the provisions of sections 53-278a to 53-278g, inclusive, loses the sum or value of one dollar in the whole and pays or delivers the same or any part thereof, may, within three months next following, recover from the winner the money or the value of the goods so lost and paid or delivered, with costs of suit in a civil action, without setting forth the special matter in his complaint. If the defendant refuses to testify, if called upon in such action, relative to the discovery of the property so won, the defendant shall be defaulted; but no evidence so given by the defendant shall be offered against him or her in any criminal prosecution. Nothing in this section shall prohibit any person from using a credit card to (1) participate in online casino gaming, online sports wagering, retail sports wagering or fantasy contests, as such terms are defined in section 12-850, and conducted pursuant to sections 12-852 to 12-865, inclusive, as applicable, or (2) participate in keno through or purchase tickets for lottery draw games through the Internet web site, online service or mobile application of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, pursuant to section 12-853.

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 6786; P.A. 81-16, S. 1, 2; P.A. 21-23, S. 39.) History: P.A. 81-16 specifically excluded games permitted under chapter 226 or any activity not prohibited under Secs. 53-278a to 53-278g, inclusive; P.A. 21-23 added provision re nothing in section prohibits use of credit card and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2021. Money wagered is recoverable from stakeholder. 15 C. 31; 40 C. 336. Under former statute, a negotiable check given by the stakeholder to the winner for the amount wagered was void even in the hands of a bona fide holder. 36 C. 463. Legislation re gaming reviewed. 70 C. 490. Statute embraces all events mentioned in Sec. 52-553; allows recovery of money lost and paid in bet on a horse race. 100 C. 545. Not necessary to state details of bets in complaint. 125 C. 116. No credit for bets won by defendant. Id., 121. Claim for share of fund increased by betting in Rhode Island, though valid there, contravenes our public policy and cannot be enforced in our courts. 134 C. 52. Gambling on credit is the vice at which this statute and Sec. 52-553 are particularly directed. 189 C. 591. Cited. 33 CS 170. Statute does not extend to legalized gambling authorized by Sec. 12-557 et seq. 37 CS 88.