Sports betting is officially coming to New York State. Online sports betting will have to wait though.
On Monday, The New York Gaming Commission unanimously approved rules and regulations for licensing. New York becomes the 14th state to offer some version of U.S. legal sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA last May.
According to the rules and regulations, New York bettors can only make bets in person in the sportsbooks at the state’s four new commercial casinos, or at the region’s seven full-service Indian nation-owned casinos. Bettors are also prohibited from placing wagers on New York college teams or on collegiate events taking place within the state.
The four private, commercial casinos allowed to take wagers are del Lago in Seneca County, Tioga Downs in Tioga County, Resorts World Catskills in Sullivan County, and Rivers Casino in Schenectady County. Seven full-service Indian nation-owned casinos in Upstate, NY may also offer sports betting if they choose to do so. The Oneida Nation has started construction on its sportsbooks that will be located in its Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, the Point Place Casino in Bridgeport and the Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango.
As for mobile wagering, it will have to wait. It was not included in the original bill. State lawmakers are working on a proposal to allow mobile betting but that must be approved by the time the State Legislature session ends for the year on June 19 and then get approval from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo has said in the past that online gambling will likely require an amendment to the state constitution and that process could take two to three years.
Don’t expect to see FanDuel or DraftKings in New York State this year. On Monday, FanDuel sent emails to its New York customers urging them to contact their local representatives in support of mobile sports betting but their efforts will likely fall short with the legislative session winding down. The best case scenario for sports bettors in New York is lawmakers get something done in 2020.
The next step for the four Upstate casinos is to finish construction of their sportsbooks then get one final approval from the New York Gaming Commission. Rivers Casino in Schenectedy had already begun construction on a new sportsbook in anticipation of the rules and regulations being approved.
The sportsbook at Rivers is expected to be finished in late-July, just in time for the casino to start taking bets for the upcoming football season.
“We’re extremely pleased that sports betting regulations have been finalized and approved by the New York State Gaming Commission and are looking forward to introducing one of the first licensed sportsbooks in the state at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady,” said Acting General Manager, Justin Moore. “We anticipate opening the Rivers Sportsbook as soon as we receive approval from the NYSGC. Sports betting will be a tremendous complement to all that Rivers Casino has to offer.”
The good news for New York bettors is soon they will be able to legally wager on sporting events. The bad news is they’ll need to be inside a sportsbook to do it.