NY Gaming Commission approves on-site betting legislation
Casinos must first secure betting licences with initial launches expected later in the summer
The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) yesterday approved legislation to allow sports betting at four upstate casinos, once licenses are granted later in the summer.
All six members of the NYSGC supported the legislation, and noted the comments submitted by stakeholders including William Hill and Rivers Casino.
New York’s Resorts World Catskills’ product will be powered by bet365, while Rivers has partnered with Rush Street Interactive, Del Lago with DraftKings and Tioga Downs with FanDuel.
The current legislation does not include mobile betting, but the move has been heavily supported by NY senator Joseph Addabbo and NYS assembly member Gary Pretlow.
Eilers & Krejcik analyst Chris Grove noted: “Online sports betting is still in play in New York. On one side, a powerful group of stakeholders (including upstate casinos and their sports betting partners) is continuing their push. On the other side, a competing group of stakeholders who are worried about being left out or disadvantaged by the expansion of sports betting (including the racing industry) and a governor who was been publicly hostile to online expansion could stall the already-fragile momentum.”
The issue will be resolved one way or another when New York’s legislative session wraps up on June 19th.
Last week Addabbo introduced an amendment to the betting bill that would enable mobile betting to be carried out at certain sports stadiums located away from the state’s casinos.
The clause proposed mobile betting kiosks powered by the four casinos be set up at these venues.
However, the bill amendment provides that in-stadium betting may not occur until at least 20 months after the effective date of the law, meaning it will likely be held back to 2021.