Tag: New York

New York Online Sportsbooks Get Off to a Flying Start

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Online sports betting has officially launched in the state of New York. Starting Saturday, January 8, 2022, New Yorkers have the luxury to bet on sports using one of the state-approved betting apps or sites.

A total of nine sportsbooks have been given the operating license, however, only four have made their debut on day 1.

The sportsbooks in question are the following:

  • BetRivers
  • Caesars
  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel Sportsbooks

For these brands, making an early launch proved to be the right choice as the sportsbooks cashed in some record-breaking amounts during the first weekend of NY mobile betting.

Great News for New York

According to data from GeoComply, betting volumes recorded in New York outshined those from other betting-friendly states. This includes two of NY’s neighboring states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The total betting handle generated in New York within the first 12 hours of mobile betting is reportedly around $5.8 million. In comparison, bettors from Pennsylvania recorded a $2.3 million handle, while those in New Jersey placed a total of $2.1 million worth of bets.

The fact that New York broke the record of other states is great news for the state government. Considering that operators need to pay a 51% tax to the state, it’s expected that New York is going to gain about $500 million from tax revenue.

The money is supposed to be used to fund education, addiction-battling projects, youth sports initiatives, and so on.

BetMGM New York to Launch Next

The four NY online sportsbooks generated record amounts during the first weekend, but we could see them doing even better in the upcoming weeks. This is because the Super Bowl LVI is on the program in February, which is the most popular sports event in the US, both among fans and bettors.

Big revenue figures are expected for the other sportsbooks as well. The remaining five sportsbooks are supposed to launch before the Super Bowl, with BetMGM being the first on the list. In fact, BetMGM is set to launch its NY internet sportsbook on Monday, January 17.

The other four – Bally Bet, Wynn Interactive, PointsBet, and Resorts World – are expected to launch by the end of the month.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

New York Mobile Betting to Go Live in January

Posted on by Grant Mahon

New Yorkers will get to bet on Super Bowl LVI using legal NY online/mobile platforms. The state gave the green light to nine sportsbooks, with only some minor things left to be cleared before the launch.

The NFL Championship game is on the program on February 13, 2022, but New York betting sites and apps will probably go live a few weeks earlier. At least that’s according to Senator Joseph Addabbo, who suggested last week that bettors from New York will be able to make bets on the NFL Playoffs.

As per Addabbo, it’s most likely that mobile betting will kick off in New York in mid-January. He puts the launch date somewhere between the second or third week of the month.

Evolution of Sports Betting in New York State

It was 1992 when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act a.k.a. PASPA came into force, effectively banning sports betting in most US States. For the next 26 years, Americans could only bet in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and on tribal lands.

However, in 2018, PASPA’s era came to an end after Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to ban sports betting on the federal level. The Court decided it’s up to each individual state to make its own decision regarding the legality of sports betting.

New York State made betting legal straight away, albeit only at land-based casinos in Upstate New York. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Empire State, its lawmakers realized that regulated sports betting could be their golden goose.

Instead of letting billions of dollars to continue hemorrhaging to offshore betting sites, they decided to regulate the NY market.

After months of analyzing the matter, New York State decided to allow nine sportsbooks to launch online betting platforms, namely:

  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel
  • BetMGM
  • Caesars Sportsbook
  • Resorts World
  • PointsBet
  • BetRivers
  • WynnBET
  • Bally Bet

All the listed sportsbooks have been given the green light by the state. They’re expected to start their sportsbook operations in January, while we could see them start accepting customers from New York as early as New Year’s Day.

Americans Just Love the Super Bowl

It’s of utmost importance for New York State that the sportsbooks go live before the Super Bowl LVI. Why? Because Super Bowl is traditionally the most-watched sports event in the United States. It’s also the #1 favorite choice for American bettors.

However, NFL betting is just one of the options New Yorkers will have before them. They will also be able to bet on other popular US sports, including the NBA, MLS, NHL, and MLS.

On top of that, they will also be allowed to bet on sports events outside the US, such as the Australian Open, which is the first major event in 2022.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Poll Reveals the Support for Mobile Betting in NY is at All-Time High

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Earlier this week, a poll conducted by the Siena College Research Institute revealed that New Yorkers are in favor of the legalization of mobile betting.

The findings showed that 51% of the respondents would vote for lifting the ban on online sportsbooks in New York State. Eighteen percent said that have no opinion, while only 30% said they would vote against such a bill.

With more than half of surveyed people being in favor of mobile betting legalization, it seems that a new era is on the horizon. Considering that Governor Andrew Cuomo and NY lawmakers are working on a proposal, it wouldn’t be surprising if the ban was lifted before the end of the year.

What’s the Status of the New York State Gambling Bill?

At the moment of writing, New York is still one of the states where online gaming is illegal. However, land-based casinos (and sportsbooks) are permitted in the Empire State. The status quo would probably remain for years if it weren’t for COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, NY Government decided to implement a casino curfew.

For months, New York casinos weren’t allowed to operate. Although Cuomo promised to lift the casino curfew on April 5, the fact that those businesses spent months with their doors closed, a huge hole was created in the state budget.

Cuomo’s idea of fixing that hole is to lift the ban on online betting, which would serve as a nice source of revenue tax. However, Cuomo’s idea differs from the one proposed by other legislators.

Governor thinks New York should have a single state-run online sportsbook based on the lottery model. Other lawmakers believe the best option would be a free-market approach, which would enable New Yorkers to choose from several operators.

The latest news from the New York State Assembly suggest that the latter option is more likely to be accepted.

NY Assembly Adds Mobile Betting to Its 2021 Budget

On Sunday evening, the lower chamber of the NY State Assembly released its budget proposal for 2021-22. One of the parts of the plan is focused on the revenue generated from mobile betting. The fiscal projection suggests New York State could make over $180 million in 2022 from this industry.

What’s interesting is that the projections were based on the open-market model, in which there would be up to 12 mobile skins.

Each land-based casino would be allowed to apply for a license for two online skins. The cost of an operating license would be somewhere in the range of $12 million. On top of that, mobile sportsbooks would have to pay a 12% tax.

When Will Mobile Betting in NY Become a Reality?

Considering how things are going at the moment, it’s only normal to assume the NY lawmakers will come up with a mobile betting bill in a few months’ time. The next step is for the voters to approve that bill.

If they do it, the seven land-based casinos (four commercial and three tribal casinos) in New York will get the right to apply for an operating license. To do that, they will have to partner up with a software provider, which will have to fulfill a number of conditions meant to ensure fair betting, as well as privacy and security of the players.

Only when they get a license will online casinos be permitted to go live. So, when should you expect such a thing to happen?

Judging by the experiences from other states, the entire process usually takes about a year and a half. For instance, online gaming became legal in Michigan in 2019, but it wasn’t until January 22, 2021, before the first mobile sportsbooks were launched.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

New York Casinos are Back in Business After COVID-19 Shutdown

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Starting this week, New York casinos are back in business after a shutdown that lasted for months. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a decree on March 16 that made all commercial casinos in the state close down.

However, starting September 9, New York casinos are letting the players in once again. In addition to commercial casinos, the Empire State has also seen racinos getting back to business. Cuomo’s decision to let the gambling establishments reopen comes some three months after New York tribal casinos decided the same.

Four Commercial NY Casinos Reopen Their Doors to Public

Tribal casinos do not have to follow the guidelines of individual US states when it comes to casino gambling. This is the reason why some of them have reopened long before the New York Governor gave commercial casinos the heads up.

Some of the Indian casinos located within the state borders have been back in the casino game since June. Non-tribal casinos in New York, however, had to wait until September 9 to get back to work.

At the moment of writing, all four commercial casinos in New York are back in business. Those casinos are, namely, the following establishments:

  • Del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre
  • Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia
  • Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady
  • World Catskills Resort in Monticello

Even though they’re back in business, the business is not going to be as usual for these casinos. The same as their tribal-owned counterparts, NY commercial casinos will also have to take some measures in order to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Anti-COVID-19 Measures in New York Casinos

Governor Cuomo’s directive allows commercial casinos to reopen, albeit at limited capacity. The number of patrons allowed inside the casinos needs to be no more than one-quarter of the full capacity, which was also the case over in New Jersey when Atlantic City casinos reopened in July.

The role of the casino staff is to make sure the number of visitors does not go over. Another role of the casino employees is to ensure everything present in the casinos wears a face mask. They also need to make sure that social distancing guidelines are respected by the patrons.

All the commercial casinos that have returned to business had to install new air-filtration systems, as well as physical barriers between players’ seats in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease.

New York Gaming Commission to Monitor the Situation

As per the Governor’s instructions, the duty of the New York Gaming Commission is to monitor the situation. Together with the New York State Police, they are obliged to do regular check-ups on the casinos in order to confirm all the anti-COVID-19 measures are carried out properly.

If they spot rule-breaking, they have the right to fine the casino. And if the situation goes out of hand, Cuomo has the right to reverse his decision at any given moment. That said, it’s in the interest of both the casino management and the patrons to respect the newly-set guidelines.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

New York Will Try Again for Poker Legislation

Posted on by Grant Mahon

New York may be looking at a future in which online poker is legalized. Having found a new backer for its cause, the state will now rely on Senator Joseph Addabbo to drive a stake through the heart of the opposition.

New York Takes a Step Closer to Legalized Online Poke

Senator Joseph Addabbo is the new face of hope for online poker in New York. The senator has introduced a new bill by the name of S.00018, a document outlining the future of the legalized industry. In the document, the senator has laid bare multiply provisions that address specific points:

  • Taxation & license application
  • Treatment of the so-called “bad actors” and their affiliates
  • Available licenses

One particular advantage of the S.00018 is that it cites the case of the United States v. DiCristina, which looks into violations of the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA), clearing the defendant of any fault.

In other words, DiCristina’s case establishes the credibility of poker as a “game of skill”, which is exactly what Senate Bill 18 is stating. As a result, Senator Addabbo is going to save himself the trouble of arguing about the nature of the game.

The focus will remain on establishing the legal groundwork so that customers are protected, which is a topic that seems to be easier to garner support for.

Not Everyone Is a Winner

Even though the bill is good news, not everyone is likely to be a winner. The text of the bill specifies that parties that have been complicit with offering online poker services to New York citizens in the past may be classified as “bad actors“. The same applies to any party that has facilitated the activities of these so-called “bad actors”.

Put simply, a bad actor is a card room that has been offering services without proper licensing. The result could be a ban on these brands once (and if) licenses become available.

The Specifics of Online Poke in New York

The bill seems to have been well-written covering all potential questions that may arise from the idea of legalizing online poker. Apart from citing evidence that poker is indeed a game of skill, the bill gives the specifics of the industry itself:

  • Each individual license will cost $10 million
  • Only 11 licenses in total will be available
  • All operators will be taxed at 15% of their gross gaming revenue
  • The first two months of taxation will be included in the license fee

As outlined by the bill, the industry seems to be favourable to consumers and businesses both. However, Mr. Addabbo is facing a tough passage not in the Senate, but in the Assembly.

The Assembly has been the major pitfall sponsors have so far been unable to overcome. In 2018, Clyde Vanel and J. Gary Pretlow promised to back a bill, which foundered, because Mr. Pretlow decided not to seek the votes necessary for the bill to clear.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Caesars and Oneida Indian Nation Partner in New York

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • Caesars and Oneida Indian Nation team up for sports betting in New York
  • New York held a referendum on betting in 2013
  • Senator Joe Addabbo is the man to watch for in 2019

Caesars Entertainment has tied up a successful partnership with Oneida Indian Nation, a tribal operator. This is an important stepping stone for the future development of the sports betting industry, paving the way for co-existence between competitive casino brands and native operators.

Caesars Entertainment and Oneida Indian Nation Develop Sports Betting

Renowned casino operator Caesars Entertainment and Oneida Indian Nation will be working together to introduce sports betting in three casinos across New York. In anticipation of the move, the pair is hoping that the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and lawmakers will vote in favor of legislation that will bring sports betting to the region. If all goes according to plan, Caesars will be present at three properties, including:

  • Turning Stone Resort Casino
  • Yellow Brick Road Casino
  • Point Place Casino

All casinos are located close to Syracuse, which is one of the most populous cities in the state, allowing themselves a quick access to potentially huge crowds of gamers eager to place legal wagers. Regulation in New York is still being discussed, but the partnership is a clear indication that top brands have enough reasons to believe in the favorable development of the situation.

We are eagerly awaiting the NIGC’s review of this innovative new partnership involving a licensing and branding arrangement – Christian Stuart, Caesars’ VP of Gaming

Christian Stuart has embraced the idea of rolling out the casino’s operations in New York and at the designated locations, predicting a strong growth and expansion of the market in the state.

New York’s attempts to pass a working sports betting bill have been bolstered by Senator John Bonacic who nevertheless failed to see the legislation through. Mr. Bonacic is now also no longer a senator, leaving Senator Joe Addabbo in his stead.

We are eagerly awaiting the National Indian Gaming Commission’s review of this innovative new partnership involving a licensing and branding arrangement. – Stuart

As head of the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, Mr. Addabbo, has also said that he would seek to continue the efforts for the legalization of the sports betting industry in the state. Several commercial casinos have partnered with various iGaming operators who also offer sports betting in anticipation of the potential legalization.

DOJ Could Consider Flip-Flopping on Its 2011 Decision

In 2019, lawmakers will have to come together and make a decision about the future of the state’s betting industry. Despite the strong commitment from operators and companies, and even legislators, there’s still a lot to be desired. New York’s sports bills have been shot one after another, leaving the state in limbo.

However, the state does have four commercial properties that have been offering sports betting since around 2013 when the state’s residents voted during a referendum to legalize the industry. A lot of work needs to be done to see the full-scale launch of sports betting, but all of this is possible in the months to come.

The man at the helm, Mr. Addabbo, is now responsible for spearheading the activity.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.