New York prepares for regulated sports wagering to launch on August 1 but these last few weeks were important for another reason. June 19 was the deadline for greenlighting mobile sports wagering and as it turns out, local lawmakers gave their nod just in time. New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. announced his proposed mobile sports betting legislation was approved with a 57-5 vote in the Senate. According to him, the prospects are bright for online sports betting in New York.
All eyes were set on New York and the moment when the Legislature is going to adjourn for this year. State lawmakers had the important task to make the best of the situation, utilize their time in an efficient manner, consider mobile sports wagering, and potentially approve it. The pressure was palpable, as mobile sports betting available across New York was projected to make the local gaming field more competitive to neighboring New Jersey that features a well-rounded sports wagering and online gaming field.
Mobile Sports Betting Clears Senate
The piece of legislation proposed by Sen. Addabbo managed to make it through the Senate with almost unanimous approval. There will be some minor changes to it, as to make it even more beneficial to the local market and the players willing to make the best of it. After the Senate, S 17D, as the bill is commonly referred to was headed to the Rules Committee.
What needs to be done in the hours left until this Wednesday is for the bill to make it to the Assembly. At the moment, there are some projections that there could be prominent Democratic support expressed at the ultimate vote involving 150 members of the Assembly.
The last push would be given by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, but there is still the possibility that he would not greenlight the legislation. In the past, Mr. Heastie has been known for his strong opposition to any online poker plans, as well as online wagering of any kind within the borders of New York State.
Online Betting Could Launch in 2020
Once this last step receives a positive answer from the local lawmakers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will have to decide whether or not the state is going to see mobile sports betting at the end of the day. For the time being, the bill’s fate remains uncertain but the next episode of this saga is projected to take place within the next few days.
With the current pace of development, it is unlikely that this proposed bill is going to see actual results and changes to the budding local sports betting field. Projections are that commercial Upstate New York casino venues and the seven tribal ones are going to launch in-person sports wagering around August 1. It could be recalled that earlier this month the set of rules regulating the field was greenlighted.
The gaming venues would first have to receive their licenses for offering wagering on sports events, but they also utilize the time by preparing their sports betting lounges. It should be taken into account that earlier projections on the revenue including mobile sports betting surpassed the US$1-billion mark, meaning that this is a preferred result that could fill state budget holes.
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