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New York Sports Betting

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On July 16, 2019, New York officially opened for sports betting. By September 2019, the total handle doubled, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) data showed, reaching $2.3 million. The Empire State still has some catching up to do, as betting is only allowed at land-based venues, but the potential of the activity can already be felt economically.

New York took over a year to legalize the industry after the Professional and Amateur Sports Act of 1992 (PASPA) was repealed in May 2018, struck down by the consistent efforts and well-argued case of New Jersey.

Following this pivotal development, lawmakers went back to the drawing board, trying to create opportunities for sports betting in the state, an attempt that had been going on since 2009 in the very least.

Finally, in January 2019, the state and the NYSGC gave their approval for sports betting, inviting public discussions, and only allowing the activity within the limits of land-based venues, dismissing the idea of mobile betting altogether.

With the final touches passed in July 2019, NY sports fans now enjoy the ability to place wagers close to home and needn’t cross the state line into Pennsylvania or New Jersey to lay a bet. Progress was made, and this only begs the following question.

Where Can You Place a Sports Bet in New York?

Presently, New York offers sports betting activities in 25-odd land-based properties, including commercial casinos, tribal casinos, and racinos. Despite a timid start, New York has picked up steam very quickly.

In the few months between legalizing the industry in July and the arrival of the 2019/2020 NFL Season, the Empire State has managed to amass a decent number of properties that will gladly accept your wagers today.

As of today, there are 5 commercial casinos, 8 racinos, and 11 tribal casinos. Here’s everything you need to know about them:

PropertyTypeAddressContact Number
Del Lago Resort and CasinoCommercial1133 NY-414, Waterloo, NY 13165(315) 946-1777
Jake’s 58 Hotel & CasinoCommercial3635 Express Dr N, Islandia, NY 11749(631) 232-3000
Resorts World CatskillsCommercial888 Resorts World Dr, Monticello, NY 12701(833) 586-9358
Rivers & Casino ResortCommercial1 Rush St, Schenectady, NY 12305(518) 579-8800
Tioga Downs & CasinoCommercial2384 W River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812(888) 946-8464
Empire City Casino at Yonkers RacewayRacino810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704(914) 968-4200
Batavia Downs CasinoRacino8315 Park Rd, Batavia, NY 14020(585) 343-3750
The Fairgrounds GamingRacino5820 South Park Ave, Hamburg, NY 14075(716) 646-6109
Finger Lakes Gaming and Race TrackRacino5857 NY-96, Farmington, NY 14425(585) 924-3232
Monticello Gaming & RacewayRacino204 NY-17B, Monticello, NY 12701(866) 777-4263
Resorts World New York CityRacino110-00 Rockaway Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11420(888) 888-8801
Saratoga Casino and RacewayRacino342 Jefferson St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866(518) 584-2110
Vernon Downs & CasinoRacino4229 Stuhlman Rd, Vernon, NY 13476(877) 888-3766
Akwesasne Mohawk CasinoTribal873 NY-37, Hogansburg, NY 13655(518) 358-2222
Lakeside EntertainmentTribal271 Cayuga St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148(315) 889-5416
Point Place CasinoTribal450 NY-31, Bridgeport, NY 13030(315) 366-9610
Seneca Allegany CasinoTribal777 Seneca Allegany Blvd, Salamanca, NY 14779(888) 913-3377
Seneca Buffalo Creek CasinoTribal1 Fulton St, Buffalo, NY 14204(877) 873-6322
Seneca Gaming and Entertainment IrvingTribal11099 Erie Rd, Irving, NY 14081(716) 549-4389
Seneca Gaming and Entertainment Oil SpringTribal5374 W Shore Rd, Cuba, NY 14727(716) 780-8787
Seneca Gaming and Entertainment SalamancaTribal768 Broad St, Salamanca, NY 14779(716) 945-4080
Seneca Niagara CasinoTribal310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303(877) 873-6322
Turning Stone Resort & CasinoTribal5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY 13478(800) 771-7711
Yellow Brick Road CasinoTribal800 W Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037(315) 366-9400

Every NY Sportsbook in Detail

For the sports betting fans, these resorts are all safe to bet at:

Del Lago Resort & Casino x DraftKings

The del Lago Resorts & Casino has teamed up with DraftKings to deliver New York sports fans with great odds and lines on-site. The companies teamed up back in May, anticipating the official roll-out of sports betting in NY.

The 94,000-square-foot space emptied up by the Vine Restaurant is occupied by the dedicated DraftKings sportsbook today.

Del Lago can host up to 200 people and uses 1,000-square-foot space of LED video screens, four betting windows, wide-screen odds boards, 23 betting kiosks to provide sports fans with real-time updates.

Opening hours:

  • Sunday – Thursday: 9 AM-1 AM
  • Friday & Saturday: 9 AM-2 AM
  • Betting Kiosks Available 24/7

Rivers & Casino Resort x Kambi/Rush Street Interactive

Tioga Downs has teamed up with FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings’ main competitor and one of the leading sports & fantasy betting agencies in the U.S.

The property comes with 2,600-square-foot space allocated for the sportsbook as well as 50 seats for customers. There are 27 video displays, 12 lounge seats, along with room for sports fans to have a drink and wind down.

Opening hours:

  • Monday – Thursday 10 AM – 1 AM
  • Friday 10 AM – 2 AM
  • Saturday 9 AM – 2 AM
  • Sunday 9 AM – 1 AM

Point Place Casino x Caesars Entertainment

Point Place is another flagship sportsbook in New York, offering 30 LED screens and a 24-foot high-resolution video wall to make tracking sports a breeze. The refreshed casino decided to stay committed to the highest standards in the now quickly expanding wagering industry and has teamed up with Caesars Sport for that extra spiff a betting venue needs.

Opening hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM
  • Sunday: 9:00 AM – 1:00am

Resorts World Catskills x Bet365

Resorts World Cocktails has teamed up with British sports betting company bet365 for New York. Bet365 has long been trying to establish a footprint in the Empire State. In 2018, it was reported that the company had paid a lobbyist agency to help push sports betting and poker legislation.

The sportsbook offers a 6,000-square-foot sports betting space and 360-degree arch equipped with 35 75-inch flat-screen televisions. The lounge offers seating for 100 people and there are 14 betting kiosks available 24/7

Turning Stone Resort & Casino x Caesars Entertainment

Known as the Lounge with Caesars Sports you can expect to find a pleasing environment that will bring you some authentic betting experience. The 500-square foot curved LED screen offers sports fans an easy way to track new developments on the spot.

There are various luxury VIP areas, fan-favorite beer, and craft cocktails, and other amenities focusing on making your overall stay a delight.

Opening hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM (Bar open until 2:00am)
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM (Bar open until 2:00am)
  • Sunday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM

*Information as per the official sportsbook page.

Yellow Brick Road x Caesars Entertainment

Another Lounge with Caesars Sports is located at Yellow Brick Road Casino at 800 W Genesee St, Chittenango, NY 13037. The tribal operator has teamed up with Caesars Entertainment to bring a world-class sports betting experience to visitors.

The property calls itself the largest sportsbook in New York, offering 30 large-screen TVs, 6 of which measure 85 inches. There is a 32-foot video wall that will help you track all the games in real-time.

In addition, Caesars and Yellow Brick Road have added 7 VIP fan caves for those sports fans who love a little privacy. There are dozens of stadium recliners and the sportsbook can easily host over 200 people.

Opening hours:

  • Monday – Thursday: 10:00am – 1:00am
  • Friday: 10:00am – 1:00am (Bar until 2:00am)
  • Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00am (Bar until 2:00am)
  • Sunday: 9:00am – 1:00am

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort x The Stars Group

On July 9, 2019, the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort owned by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, signed with Canadian gaming company The Stars Group (TSG), paving the way for sports betting in the resort. The sportsbook is due to open in the Fall.

Meanwhile, Flutter Entertainment and TSG are merging to create a new global leader in iGaming. When the sportsbook finally arrives, it will operate as a FoxBet brand.

History of Sports Betting

1992U.S. Congress passes the Professional Amateurs Sports Protection Act and outlaws all sports betting, but in four states, to name Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana.
2009Sen. Eric Adams introduces Senate Bill 6061 and makes the first attempt to overturn PASPA and allow off-track sports betting facilities to accept bets on professional sports events.
2011Assemblyman David Weprin and Sen. Eric Adams work on Assembly Bill 10464 to try and once again broach the discussion about legalizing sports in NY. Sen. Tony Avella also put forth his Senate Bill 7401 which came to no avail.
2013Lobbying for four upstate casinos in NY begins. An estimated $6 million are paid by 22 bidders to try and get a permit to build a casino.
2016NY Attorney General Eric Schneider suspended Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). Later in August, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Interactive Fantasy Sports Act, allowing DFS to return. AG Schneider then sought legal action against the operators, which settled for $12 million in October 2016.
2017Assemblyman Gary Pretlow votes more support for any attempts to legalize sports betting. Senator Avella and Assemblyman Weprin filed bills to try and push sports betting again.
2019 Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. introduced Senate Bill 17C, an amended version of a previous bill, which is also mothballed and doesn’t get a go-ahead.

On January 28, the NYSGC finally agreed to grant preliminary approvals and begin issuing sports betting licenses. The move was subject to a 60-day public discussion.

Finally, in July, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers agreed to give the go-ahead and license land-based sports betting in New York. Commercial casinos, racinos, and tribal operators all opened for business.

New York took a while to shape itself into a hub for sports wagers, joining 12 other states as a place where betting on sports is legal. Like all other places in the U.S., the Empire State was affected by PASPA 1992 which prohibited all sports betting nationwide, except in Oregon, Montana, Delaware, and naturally, Nevada, which has remained the nation’s sports betting leader.

2009: Adams and Weprin Spearhead Legislation

Moving forward, New York completely flatlined on the sports betting front until 2009 when Sen. Eric Adams introduced Senate Bill 6061 hoping to strike a compromise deal with lawmakers and enable off-track betting facilities (OTBs) to offer bets on professional contests. History tells us that the first sports betting bill in NY flopped, but that didn’t quite snuff out the attempts to legalize the industry.

In 2011, Sen. Adams returned, putting together a new bill – Assembly Bill 10464 – and garnering support from Assemblyman David Weprin. Both Weprin and Adams would play a crucial role over the next years, trying to legalize the industry against all odds and lacking support across all levels of state government.

Weprin’s A 10464 also tried to add collegiate sports, going against all odds at the time. Both lawmakers cited strong economic windfall for the state. At one point, the sum of $2 billion was floated as the likely annual economic windfall for NY – a grossly inflated number.

Sen. Tony Avella also emerged as a proponent throwing his weight in the legal ring. Avella introduced Senate Bill 7401, which was a slight rehash of the previous bills to update laws to reflect the warming attitude towards sports betting.

Upstate Casinos and Lobbyism in NY

In 2013 the state announced plans to boost the local economy and allow four upstate casinos to open doors. Brands from Singapore to Nevada started hiring lobbyists and legal experts to help them break ground in the Empire State.

In fact, 22 different brands became bidders for the project, signaling how much gambling, betting and iGaming companies were interested in becoming part of the local gambling landscape. The four casinos that won licenses included:

  • Tioga Downs in Tioga County
  • Resorts World Catskills in Sullivan County
  • Rivers Casino in Schenectady County
  • del Lago in Seneca County.

Meanwhile, one of the lawmakers’ names that stood at the time was that of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, one of the frontrunners of the industry in the years to follow – even though he publicly used to express concern. To put things in perspective, bidders paid $6 million to boost lobbyist efforts. Cuomo himself received $55,000 while he was seeking re-election.

Weprin and Avella filed two new bills, Assembly Bill 867 on January 9, 2019, and Senate Bill 331 on January 9, 2013, respectively. Once again, the bills came to no avail.

In 2014, little progress was booked -mostly dismissed bills that reiterated the position of previous years, without any changes in their substance.

In 2016, FanDuel and DraftKings were briefly ousted from New York under Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Schneiderman focused on the grey status from which the two daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms were benefiting at the time, but his decision seemed short-sighted at best. The brands returned to the state that same year.

Pretlow Appears on the Map

In 2017, a new and important name would appear on the map. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow brought fresh hopes for legalizing the industry in NY. Pretlow was the Chairman of the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee, putting him in a unique position to gather support and help.

He vowed support to sports betting – but failed to deliver – as Adella and Weprin fired off two matching bills, to name Senate Bill 1282 on January 9, 2017, and Assembly Bill 5438 on February 9, 2017. Most notably, both bills argued that commercial casinos would be able to offer sports betting options.

2018: A Year Ripe for Sports Betting in New York

After 10 years in the air, sports betting was finally going to get a little closer to realization. The state hosted a public hearing and the NBA sent representatives in the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee who made a complete U-turn and indicated that the National Basketball Association would support the legislation of sports in the state and nation-wide.

The defeat of PASPA by New Jersey in May that same year was definitely what gave lawmakers a little more determination to weave sports betting into the state’s fabric. Sen. John Bonacic and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow both launched a legal offensive in favor of sports betting but it would take until 2019 and Senate Bill 17 to almost bring sports betting online.

It took until June for Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. to actually get Senate Bill 17C introduced on January 9, 2019, voted through the Senate. That was followed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature forever legalizing sports betting in NY.

Yet, all sports betting is presently only limited to land-based venues.

What Sports Can You Bet on in New York?

You may bet on a whole bunch of sports in New York. The Empire State covers all major competitions in the U.S., including the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and of course the National Football League (NFL).

Football and baseball naturally draw the largest crowds in the state when it comes to placing a wager. The NYSGC presently permits betting on 11 sports, which include:

  • Boxing
  • MMA
  • Motor Sports
  • Golf
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

The sportsbooks in the state cover a majority of sports, across each of these major categories. Therefore, you will be able to bet on regular football and NCAA FBS. Baseball is available as both part of the MLB – which is already expanding overseas – and the Olympics.

MMA features both Bellator MMA and UFC – one of the main promoters of mixed martial arts in the world at all. PGA Tour is one of the main golf events you can bet on, and as to rugby, there’s always the Rugby World Cup.

Types of Bets You Can Place in NY

The NYSGC has taken pains to specify what bets are permissible in the Empire States, creating an equal experience across the 25-odd properties that offer sports betting opportunities in 2019.

Moneyline

The moneyline bet is the most common form of a bet and it has to do with trying to predict the winning party of a game.

Totals

When betting on totals, you are betting on the final total score – accumulated by both teams’ scores – and whether you will have under or over a certain score this way.

Futures

Future bets are placed ahead of an event. For example, at the beginning of the NFL Season, some sportsbooks are already offering you a chance to bet on the likely winner of the Super Bowl.

Spreads

Point spreads, as they are referred to, are types of bets whereby you subtract points from the winning team’s final score and add to the losing team. If the losing team turns out to have more points as per the spread, then your bet wins.

In-Play

In-play or live bets is an activity whereby you place wagers while a game is in progress. The NYSGC allows betting on most such activities.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) had a rocky history in New York. While the states were happy to operate without a license and in a complete state of limbo in pre-2016 terms, a major shift happened that year.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Interactive Fantasy Sports Bill into law in August 2016, officially allowing DFS operators to start operating in the state. Companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel had left under Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who outlawed them the same year. The IFSB used a popular refrain from the game-of-skill vs game-of-chance debate:

Interactive fantasy sports are not games of chance because they consist of fantasy or simulation sports games or contests in which the fantasy or simulation sports teams are selected based upon the skill and knowledge of the participants.

Despite Cuomo’s efforts, Schneiderman did pursue legal action against the companies. Emboldened by the prospect of returning to NY as legal entities, however, DraftKings and FanDuel gladly agreed to pay $12 million as settlement money and be allowed back in the state.

Today, the FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks both operate as licensed operators and together with a land-based facility.

Collegiate Sports Betting

With events such as March Madness, New York sports bettors are certainly wondering about one thing – can they place wagers on collegiate events? The short answer is that they can’t so long as the athletes and teams are from the state or the event is held at a university or college within NY.

It may seem restrictive, but for the time being it’s a way to guarantee the integrity of competitions, lawmakers believe.

Mobile Betting Apps in New York State

Presently, New York doesn’t offer any form of mobile sports betting. One of the reasons is that Gov. Andrew Cuomo doesn’t want to back the issue, and as a result, lawmakers are avoiding broaching the topic.

Meanwhile, Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., the person to start the legislative session with a new proposal – that could have also legalized poker – has called the lack of support for mobile betting ‘excuses.’

How Safe Is It to Bet on Sports in New York?

New York has taken all necessary precautions to secure a safe betting environment for everyone. The NYSGC upholds the highest standards for protecting the customers and campaigns that remind about the downsides of excessive gambling can be seen on casino floors.

A special body, the New York Council on Problem Gambling, has been set up to address this directly. Consider the following methods to get in touch with the NY Council on Problem Gambling:  

  • Phone: 518-867-4084
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: 100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 126, Albany, NY 12203

Similarly, you may get in touch with the New York State Gaming Commission, which regulates the activity state-wide. To get in touch with the NYSGC use the following methods:

  • Phone: 518-388-3300
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Mailing address: New York State Gaming Commission, PO Box 7500, Schenectady, New York 12301-7500

Are Offshore Gambling Operators Outlawed in New York?

While many states, such as New Jersey, have targeted offshore operators, describing them as ‘bad actors,’ NY has omitted to mention these companies altogether. Therefore, New York sports bettors may still place wagers at offshore venues if they believe that this adds value to their overall sports betting. Most such venues are usually hosted with a .EU or .AG domain.

Conclusion

With sports betting booming at del Lago and the state posting solid results for the beginning of the NFL 2019/2020 Season, NY is definitely well-poised to continue benefitting from the industry. While mobile betting is still unavailable, the state has enough properties to cater to demand from local sports fans. As one of the 13 states – today – to have legalized sports betting, NY can feel the economic windfall already.