PointsBet in “momentous” New York sports betting launch
Empire State regulators approve sixth sportsbook operator as PointsBet lauds rollout of ‘Always On’ in-game betting proposition
PointsBet has begun online and mobile sportsbook operations in New York after having received clearance to do so by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC).
The Australian-headquartered operator took its first bet at 10:09pm New York time 24 January, becoming the sixth sportsbook to launch in the Empire State.
PointsBet is now live in nine US states, following successful launches in New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, West Virginia, and Virginia.
PointsBet US CEO Johnny Aitken lauded the launch as a “significant milestone” for PointsBet, a statement echoed by group CEO and MD Sam Swannell.
“This marks a momentous day for PointsBet in officially launching within the state of New York, poised to be one of the largest markets in the United States,” Swannell said.
“The PointsBet team is excited to prove our reputation and consistent ability to deliver a world-class experience to New York sports bettors,” he added.
As with other US states in which it operates, PointsBet is expected to leverage its media relationship with US broadcaster NBC Sports to push its sports betting product to New York bettors.
This includes SportsNet New York (SNY), part of the NBC Sports Group and regional broadcast home of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) New York Mets, in addition to carrying supplemental coverage of the National Football League’s (NFL) New York Jets.
PointsBet’s licence to operate sports betting was awarded in November, however, an official launch was delayed subject to NYSGC regulators completing “statutory and regulatory” checks into the firm.
Four sportsbooks: Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive were initially approved to launch on January 8, with the quartet generating $48.2m in revenue during the first two weeks of operation.
That roster has since been joined by BetMGM, which began operations on January 14.
However, the remaining three operators, WynnBet, Bally’s, and Resorts World Bet, have yet to begin operation and will face an uphill battle to generate market share in what has become a highly competitive environment.
Elsewhere, PointsBet has confirmed a successful test of its ‘Always On’ live, in-game betting product during the recent NBC broadcast of the NFL Wildcard Playoff game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals.
The technology used by the firm as part of this launch previously formed part of Banach Technology, a business which the firm acquired in March 2021, an deal lauded by Johnny Aitken.
“When we acquired Banach Technology, it was with a precise focus to build toward an ‘always on’ in-game betting technology experience at PointsBet,” Aitken explained.
“That proprietary technology has been developed quicker than we expected since our acquisition, so we tested it out to its full extremity for an NFL playoff game.
Aitken continued, “Our customers experienced 100% uptime and no suspensions on in-game spread and moneyline bets, which we believe to be the first ever result of this kind in the US.
“While this test focused on the spread and moneyline markets, it also showed a glimpse into the future of where we can take our technology over time and offer a completely differentiated experience when betting in-play with PointsBet,” the PointsBet USA CEO added.
After the successful test run, PointsBet plans to refine its live betting technology and expand its offerings, with the aim of optimizing the customer experience for the 2022 NFL season.