New York Sports Betting Is Legal, But How?

  • Sports betting was legalized in the state of New York in 2013 for their commercial casinos.
  • The four casinos that are allowed to offer sports wagers currently do not.
  • Mobile sports betting has been prohibited by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

NEW YORK - When it comes to wagering on sports in the state of New York, the wheels have been in motion since 2013. Six years ago the state signed Senate Bill S5883, to enable sports betting to take place in any one of the four commercial casinos. This legalization would fully be enforced once the federal ban known as PASPA was lifted, which it was in 2018.

Since then, the wheels have been in slow motion. In January, a set of rules and regulations were drawn up and approved by the New York State Gaming Commission on an introductory basis. These rules and regulations were not set in stone and could be changed if need be. The regulations were lawfully accepted in June 2019 to allow commercial casinos in the state of New York to apply for their sports betting licenses.

The rules and regulations that were cemented into law prohibit residents from betting on any college sports from schools within the state as well as any outside college event if that event will be taking place in New York. Secondly, bettors are only allowed to place bets within the walls of the four commercial casinos or the seven Indian casinos should they participate in sports wagering at their establishments. All land-based sportsbooks will not be offering a mobile aspect to their sports betting platforms as mobile betting is still prohibited.

Where To Bet On Sports In New York

Four commercial casinos in New York have the ability to apply for licenses to offer sports wagering at their facilities. These casinos are the Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, NY, Resort World Catskills in Monticello, NY, del Lago Resort and Casino in Waterloo, NY, and Rivers Casino and Resort Schenectady in Schenectady, NY. Not one of these casinos currently offers sports betting. New York residents and the operators themselves are hopeful that they will all be licensed by the time the 2019 NFL season rolls around. Casinos are presently in the process of becoming fully licensed.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has declined to sign off on legal mobile sports betting for the state. No real reason has been given as to why he does not want to legalize mobile wagers. The matter will not be brought to the House again until the 2020 session. However, member of the New York Senate, Joseph Addabbo Jr believes that the mobile aspect of sports betting is crucial.

“Experiences in other states have demonstrated that implementing sports betting without a mobile component leaves those states where people cannot wager with their phones or other devices at a competitive disadvantage,” Addabbo said in a statement. “Ultimately, I hope the Governor will choose to embrace the great benefits that sports betting, including the mobile component, will bring to New York in terms of employment, additional funding for education, addressing illegal gambling, and ensuring our competitiveness with other states.”

SportsBettingNewYork.com knows with no mobile sports wagering in the state, New Jersey rejoices at the influx of bets they’ll receive from their New York neighbors when it comes to mobile sports betting. After all, New Jersey is just over the bridge. In a city like New York, mobile sports wagering would be the most convenient for New Yorkers to participate in. Until then, they’ll have to travel to casinos upstate to place their legal sports bets or get themselves to New Jersey. Let’s just hope the casinos of New York are fully licensed by the start of the football season.

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