New York Commission Approves Limited Sports Betting

The New York Gaming Commission has put a structure in place for New Yorkers to be betting on sports as early as next month by a vote of 6-0 on Monday.

With the approval by the Gaming Commission, New York becomes the 14th state in America to adopt some form of sports gambling.

Unlike sports betting in New Jersey, which is available to all residents online, the commission’s approval allows in-person betting at the Del Lago, Rivers, Resorts World Catskills and Tioga Downs casinos as well as all the tribal casinos in New York.

The commission did not take a stance on online betting and that will be left to lawmakers to approve before the end of the current legislative session in less than two weeks.

“Our lawyers say you can’t do anything on sports betting other than in brick and mortar casinos,” Commissioner member Jerry Skurnik said.

The commission’s final vote on Monday approved proposed rules put in place for a vote in late January.

The vote on the rules came after allowing four months for public comment from residents as required by law.

The new rules for sports betting in the state of New York will not take effect until they are published in the state register which could happen as early as June 26.

Bettors will not be able to make wagers on in-state collegiate teams or on collegiate events taking place inside the state’s boundaries.

Regardless of what the legislators do in New York from here until the end of the current legislative cycle, the commission has officially brought sports betting to New York.

What Is the Possibility For Bigger Expansion of Sports Betting in New York?

The approval by the Gaming Commission puts New York on a course for limited legalized sports betting by August 1st in the included locations, but what about for the entire state?

Lawmakers are feverishly working to adopt sports betting legislation in the state hoping to find a compromise that would include more brick and mortar locations.

There are also proposed measure that would bring online wagering to the state, but skeptics say the measures have slim chances of passing this session.

What Are The Hurdles New York Lawmakers Face To Agreeing on the Bill?

Perhaps the main obstacle in getting sports betting legislation passed is the Governor, Andrew Cuomo.

Gov. Cuomo’s administration has been on both sides of the fence in recent weeks as legislators push for a final wagering bill.

Last week, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow introduced new legislation that would permit sports betting via kiosks at locations throughout the state.

But that legislation is under scrutiny because members of the Governor’s staff have claimed that voters will have to pass a referendum allowing an expansion of betting in the state.

Other legislators claim that voters have already passed an expansion of gambling in the state that covered the addition of sports betting.

Gov. Cuomo has repeatedly told the media that sports betting would have to go through voters but recently changed his tune hinting that wagering could circumvent a costly vote.

When asked about the change in position, Richard Azzopardi, Gov. Cuomo advisor said, “Our position on constitutional concerns has not changed, but we remain in discussions with the Legislature.”

With the session deadline approaching, New York lawmakers will have to navigate a field of legal landmines to pass broad expansion.