New York sports betting handle hits year high of $1.96bn after busy April
FanDuel continues to lead the pack in the Empire State as Flutter-owned firm and DraftKings account for lion’s share of sports betting action
New York mobile sports betting handle reached $1.9bn in April, per figures released by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC).
Sports bettors in the Empire State upped their total wagers from March when handle landed at $1.85bn.
The total also represents a 27% year-on-year (YOY) increase in comparison to the $1.5bn recorded in April 2023.
April also represents the largest handle figure in a single month this calendar year for New York, edging ahead of the $1.95bn total in January.
When breaking handle down by operator, FanDuel ranked supreme with a staggering $780.5m generated in handle last month.
DraftKings took second place, hot on the heels of FanDuel with $737m in handle, as the duo accounted for 80% of total bets in the market.
The pair were the only brands to report more than $160m in handle during April as the drop-off between second-place DraftKings and third-place Caesars Sportsbook was particularly steep.
The Nevada-based firm generated just under $159m in handle in April.
In fourth place ranked BetMGM, as the New Jersey-headquartered operator recorded $130.2m in handle within the same four-week period.
When it comes to gross gaming revenue (GGR), sportsbooks in New York recorded $183.8m by the end of April.
FanDuel was responsible for just under half of that total sum, with $91m in GGR reported by the Flutter-owned firm.
Following the same pattern as handle, DraftKings ranked second in terms of GGR with $63.2m. Caesars Sportsbook totaled $10.4m, which saw the operator rank third, while BetMGM reported $9.1m in GGR.
April was a hectic month in the state’s sporting calendar with the rise in handle likely to have been influenced by the NBA play-offs with the New York Knicks in action.
The Major League Baseball campaign began in March, but April saw the New York Yankees and the New York Mets contest some huge fixtures.
Additionally, the back end of the month saw the NFL draft, which also may have caused a spike in handle for New York operators, especially as the Giants surprised players and pundits alike by opting against selecting a quarterback in favor of wide receiver Malik Nabers.
The New York Jets were heavy favorites to draft Brock Bowers as the number 10 pick with odds of +150 but, much like their city neighbors, sprung a surprise and snubbed the 21-year-old.