Sports Gambling Legalized In Ny
New York's four brick-and-mortar casinos didn’t reopen until Sept. 9, and its lack of online sports betting has left the state a handle far behind New Jersey's. Yes, sports betting is legal in the state of New York. However, it is only legal at the physical casinos located in Upstate New York. You can use your mobile phone to bet, but only while you are on the premises of the casino. Mobile sports betting is not legal state wide.
The COVID-19 pandemic might be the spark that brings online or mobile sports betting to New York.
The Empire State launched its legal and regulated sports betting market in 2019, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been steadfast against the addition of mobile or online sports betting. Instead, he has chosen to throw his support behind the current structure of keeping betting restricted to just the four upstate commercial casinos and the rest of the tribal properties.
But as New York continues to keep some of the most burdensome restrictions in the country on its local economy, the state coffers are beginning to run dry. With many sectors of the economy shut down, some lawmakers have begun looking at online sports betting as a potential source of tax revenue, according to a report from Spectrum News.
“With businesses operating under socially distancing guidelines, health and safety restrictions and doing all or some of their business virtually and online, now is the time for New York to take the next step and move forward with mobile sports betting,” said Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.
The Democrat is a sitting member of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, representing Schenectady, home of Rivers Casino, one of the four commercial casinos in the state.
Cuomo shuttered the brick-and-mortar gambling industry in mid-March, along with the rest of the country, but kept his state’s commercial casinos closed much longer than the rest of the country. Casino workers staged a rally to reopen the properties before Cuomo finally allowed the market to operate again in mid-September, with several restrictions in place. Poker rooms at the commercial casinos are still closed.
Adding mobile and online sports betting to a market has shown to increase the viability of it. In New Jersey, sports bettors have been setting records with how much they are betting on sports. The overwhelming majority of the wagers have been placed through mobile apps.
After falling short of revenue goals early in its market’s rollout in 2019, Rhode Island’s legislature decided to pass a second bill that would allow for online betting.
New York finally got its act together. On June 10, 2019, the New York State Gaming Commissionapproved rules and regulations to allow sports betting in the Empire State.
While this news might seem positive, New York residents may need to temper their excitement for the time being. The approved activity is limited to New York’s four commercial casinos and Indian casinos.
No online sports betting is permitted under the current rules unless you travel to NJ. For a state with the amount of area that New York has, that omission will be a major disappointment, at least in the short term.
New York residents will also be unable to wager on any New York college team games. So, fans of schools like Syracuse, Cornell and the University of Buffalo will not be able to put their money where their mouths are.
Download in NY and bet in NJ
Sports Gambling Legalized In Nyc
Sports Gambling Legalized In Ny State
What kind of sports betting is legal now?
New Yorkers can wager at the four commercial casinos. They are:
- Resorts World Catskills
- Del Lago Resort and Casino
- Tioga Downs
- Rivers Schenectady
Now, the nice thing is that by virtue of their compact, tribal casinos can offer any game that other casinos in the state offer. So, there are sportsbooks operating at those locations, too. Sportsbooks have opened here:
- Turning Stone Resort Casino
- Point Place Casino
- Yellow Brick Road Casino
- Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino
- Seneca Niagara Casino
- Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino
What’s the hold-up on NY mobile sports betting?
Obviously, many observers are curious as to when mobile wagering will show up in New York. Mobile sports betting now accounts for nearly 4 out of every 5 sports bets in neighboring New Jersey, so the rationale for allowing it is quite clear.
However, the Empire State faces an uphill battle for mobile sports betting amid reservations from key detractors — most notably, Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo’s legal team has concluded that the legislature does not have the legal ability to authorize mobile wagering without a constitutional amendment. Cuomo has also expressed his personal distaste for the practice in various public statements.
Whether his team’s opinions on the matter are valid is likely a question for the courts. So, it could be quite a while until we see New Yorkers wagering on their phones.
Which sports teams in New York can I bet on?
New Yorkers will be able to place bets on all of the major sports franchises:
- New York Giants
- New York Jets
- New York Knicks
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- New York Yankees
- New York Mets
- Buffalo Sabres
- Buffalo Bills