New York has officially legalized sports betting, allowing both in-person and online betting to take place at licensed locations throughout the state. The state of New York legalized sports betting at its land-based casinos back in 2013. This decision was made before PAPSA was struck down, but this new ruling means that the state has been able to completely legalize betting on sports.
The New York State Gaming Commission agreed on preliminary rules and regulations governing online betting in 2019, which has paved the way for further progress to be made. Since then, mobile sports betting received the go-ahead from state legislators in April 2021, meaning that New York sports betting apps should be just around the corner. It’s expected that by the end of the summer, the first mobile sports betting platforms should go live in New York.
What Are the Current Sports Betting Rules in New York?
New York is currently a legal state in regard to sports betting, although no online platforms have gone live just yet. Currently, if you want to bet on any sports in the state, you’ll need to go to one of the land-based commercial casinos. These are mostly upstate and don’t include tribal casinos. The full list of casinos where you can place sports bets in New York is as follows:
- Del Lago Resort & Casino
- Tioga Downs Casino
- Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady
- Resorts World Catskills
Each of these casinos offers a place to enjoy casino games such as slots, blackjack, and roulette. On top of that, you’ll now be able to place sports bets provided you’re at least 21 years old and aren’t involved in the sport you’re betting on.
It’s worth noting that NY betting laws say that you can’t bet on NY college teams or events involving these teams and that also, only sports betting is allowed. That means that you can’t bet on awards shows like the Oscars, and betting on politics and Esports is also not permitted for the time being.
Provided you’re betting on a real sport, you should have plenty of markets to choose from, and the odds offered by NY state casinos are decent. That said, bettors will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of online and mobile sportsbooks, as this will mean they have even greater choice about where and what they bet on.
What Will Mobile Betting Mean for New York?
Mobile and online betting has been officially legalized in New York, meaning that it will soon be easier than ever to place bets wherever you are in the state. Although online betting has been legalized, no sports betting sites have been launched just yet. That’s because these sites need time to set up, apply for their licenses, and ensure that everything is ready.
It’s expected that the first sports betting apps will be ready to launch in New York by the end of July, although these things can sometimes take longer than expected. The New York State Gaming Commission will be in charge of handing out licenses, and sites have to pass strict controls before they can obtain one. While New York will be hoping that the arrival of online sports betting brings a new source of revenue, they’re taking careful steps to ensure that sites are safe and fair.
New York’s governor Andrew Cuomo was originally against the idea of legalizing online gambling but has since changed his mind about the issue. When asked, he gave the following statement “New York has the potential to be the largest sports wagering market in the United States, and by legalizing online sports betting, we aim to keep millions of dollars in tax revenue here at home.”
It’s clear that New York residents were already placing bets online through offshore sites, and this resulted in money moving out of the state and the country. As a result, New York can gain a big increase in tax revenue while making sports betting safer for its residents.
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