If you’re lucky enough to take a trip to New Yowk in the near future, you will be able to still get your bets on after authorities in the state confirmed the legalisation of mobile sports betting.
Before, punters had to take a trip to one of the few designated retail sportsbooks in the Big Apple and the surrounding boroughs, but as of Saturday (January 8) they will be able to instead wager on their smartphones and tablets when within state boundaries.
The New York Gaming Commission had originally planned for sports betting to be live ahead of Super Bowl LVI on February 13, but they have since accelerated the rollout so that there is plenty of time for kinks to be ironed out ahead of what is America’s premier betting event.
The weekend’s NBA and NFL fixtures are likely to see plenty of betting action as New Yorkers get to grips with their new freedom, with four licensed bookmakers – DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars and Rush Street (via its BetRivers and SugarHouse channels) – the first to welcome bets after the law is changed from 9am (EST) on Saturday.
In the next few weeks, it’s expected that the five other approved sportsbooks – BetMGM, BallyBet, PointsBet, Resorts World and Wynn – will launch their individual offerings.
New Year, New Gains
It’s excellent news for sports lovers, but just as exciting for those responsible for the state’s coffers too. New York’s economy has already been boosted to the tune of $200 million in licence fee payments, and operators have agreed to pay a 51% tax rate on their gross revenue – that could yield a return of almost $1 billion annually according to estimates.
It will also help to stem the flow of New Yorkers crossing the border into New Jersey to place their sports bets – losing taxable revenue to their neighbour. Such is the scale of the state that it was actually easier for many to head for NJ rather than travel to the upstate casinos that accept sports bets.
The co-founder of DraftKings, Jason Robins, welcomed the news:
“We are excited to finally be able to offer millions of passionate New York sports fans the top rated DraftKings mobile and online sportsbook.”
And state senator Joseph Addabbo revealed:
“This is great timing. It’s a win for the state of New York. Mobile sports betting will generate additional revenue for the state, including for education, and it will create jobs.
“New York bettors were going to New Jersey, to Pennsylvania or New England,” he added. “So, we’re asking them to switch from what they were doing, try the New York product and then stay with us.”
It takes the total to 29 US states that have launched legalised sports betting within their boundaries since 2018 – the year that previous legislation outlawing betting was lifted after a Supreme Court battle. That had prohibited wagering pretty much everywhere bar Nevada, but the liberalisation could see New York grow to become the largest legal sports betting market in the United States.