Delay in New York’s Mobile Sport Betting

There could be a two weeks delay in New York State’s introduction of mobile sports betting. According to the state’s deadline, the New York Gaming Commission had to release a Request for Applicants by July 1, in order to review potential candidates for at least two platform providers slots of mobile sports betting in the state.

Mobile sports betting has been officially included in the state’s budget plan in April, and July 1 would have started the application process for platform providers. The legislature decided to expand its gaming scenery and introduce mobile sports betting as a way of tapping into a new market opportunity to provide more revenue for the local economy.

Possible Delay

There are strong rumors that the New York Gaming Commission has failed to release the Request for Applicants on time before the state’s July 1 set deadline. The start of the application process for platform providers and operators can now be postponed by up to two weeks, ergo the mobile sport’s introduction in New York could be delayed as well.

According to Governor Cuomo’s office, the introduction of mobile sports betting could be highly beneficial for the state as it can provide up to US$500 million annually in tax revenue. The state will adopt the New Hampshire model, where one or two platform providers will partner with operators to run and provide online betting on sporting events.

The most commonly mention names in the discussions for the providers are DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars/William Hill, as all should be taking part in the application process. The commission must also select a minimum of four additional mobile sports operators, which will operate on the servers provided by the providers. Companies are allowed to apply for provider and as an operator in another’s corporation’s provider slot.

When the application process begins, all candidates for both platform and operator positions must be submitted within 30 days. Then according to state law, the commission must determine two platform providers in no less than 150 days from the date of the last received application. The two providers should be announced around Christmas, as state law does not allow the commission to reveal the names of the companies at the discretion of the commission.

Operational by Super Bowl

Previously, Senator Joseph Addabbo stated that he remains optimistic about the introduction of the mobile sports betting platform. The chairman of the Senate’s Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee predicted that the platform should be fully operational before the next Super Bowl, as it is the biggest sporting event in the country and it would bring an enormous amount of betting volume.

Potential Candidate

Without a doubt one of the most suitable and obvious candidates for the platform slots is DraftKings. The industry giant can certainly handle the task, as it has already established relationships in the state with the local tribal casinos. The company operates a sportsbook in del Lago Resort & Casino, thus further increasing its chances of being selected.

Source: Rybaltowski, Matt “Sources: New York Mobile Sports Betting RFA Delayed As Much As Two Weeks”, Sports Handle, July 1, 2021