The long wait is finally over, as this weekend New York State will officially launch mobile sports betting for the first time in its history. Starting from Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 9 a.m., Empire State gamblers will be able to place their sports wagers online on four licensed platforms by the New York State Gaming Commission with even more platforms on the way.
Previously, the New York State Gaming Commission approved a total of nine gaming operators who will be able to offer regulated online sports betting in the state. So far, the commission has given a regulatory green light to four of those nine, and from Saturday morning football fans will be able to place their wagers on Jets versus the Bill or Giants versus Washington games.
Four Platforms Ready to Launch
The four approved gaming operators that will be allowed to offer online sports wagering this weekend are Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive. The other five who are currently working on their licensing are Bally Bet, Bet MGM, PointsBet, Resorts World, and Wynn Interactive. The upcoming launch finally answers the question of whether the launch will be able to come before this yearās Super Bowl.
There were a lot of details that New York State had to iron out, before providing final terms for gaming operators. The state set a 51% tax rate for all operators, which was quite controversial, as Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman Gary Pretlow commented that the high rate might put off operators from joining or from offering business-building promotions.
Rush Street Interactive, which operates Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, is one of the companies that received approval to start accepting bets online. Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of the company, said that that the largest online sports betting market in the U.S. is finally here and it is just in time for the Super Bowl this February.
Mr. Schwartz said that Empire State gambling and sports fans have will have plenty of variety when it comes to wagering on BetRivers. On January 10, 2022, they will be able to test the new offering on the college football championship game, as well as the approaching NFL playoffs. There are also NBA and NHL seasons going in full flow.
This is not the only expansion that Rush Street Interactive is looking to make, as the company has also applied for one of the three commercial casino licenses in downstate New York. The corporation is optimistic that it can replicate its success from its upstate Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady and transform a potential downstate property into a thriving economic force.
Now in NYS Too
Besides calls from local gamblers and gaming operators, another reason for the Empire State to introduce mobile sports betting was to stop New Yorkers from going to New Jersey to place their bets there. An EmpireStakes.com survey showed that 75% of adult New Yorkers have traveled to the Garden State to place a wager on one of the stateās online platforms, thus NYS losing on potential revenue.
Source: Karlin, Rick āNew York’s mobile sports betting starts Saturdayā, Times Union, January 6, 2022
