BetMGM Among Approved Online Bookmakers Still Waiting to Accept Bets in New York

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BetMGM New York Sportsbook and four other online bookmakers approved to operate in New York still have not been OK’d to accept bets, heading into the second major NFL weekend since statewide mobile wagering began.

In addition to BetMGM, four others, BallyBet, WynnBet, PointsBet and Genting’s Resorts World, have been authorized to go live in New York but have not received a green light from state regulators.

New York gaming officials have not explained what the hold up is, except to say, in a prepared statement, that these five “continue to work towards satisfying statutory and regulatory requirements.”

Commission spokesman Brad Maione told Gambling.com the commission does not have “a date certain” on when the five bookmakers will be allowed to accept bets.

Nine Online Operators Approved Two Months Ago

In November, the New York State Gaming Commission approved nine online bookmakers to operate in the nation’s fourth most-populous state. Only California, Texas and Florida have more residents, but sports betting is illegal in those states.

In New York, the list of nine approved online bookmakers included the five that have not been allowed to accept bets yet.

Four other online bookmakers, also among the nine approved in the fall, became operational last Saturday. These four are Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel and BetRivers.

The initial four racked up nation-leading betting activity last weekend during the final full schedule of NFL play.

The four online bookmakers also were able to capitalize on heavy betting during last Monday’s major-college football championship game, which saw Georgia upend SEC foe Alabama, the No. 1 seed.

A Possible Second Missed Week of NFL Betting

If the five remaining online bookmakers aren’t approved within two days, this will be the second weekend they will miss out on the heavy wagering that always occurs on NFL games.

This weekend’s Super Wild Card matchups feature six marquee games, including a prominent East Coast contest between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Buffalo is the only New York team to make the NFL playoffs. The Bills are a 4.5-point favorite, according to Caesars Sportsbook New York.

On-Site New York Sportsbooks Top $21M Handle

Mobile sports betting is viewed as especially important to bookmakers eager to operate in New York City, the nation’s largest metropolitan area, with more than eight million residents.

Before statewide mobile wagering began last Saturday, many of the city’s residents crossed the state line to use their smartphones in New Jersey to wager legally on sports.

Four upstate New York commercial casinos have been allowed since 2019 to offer on-site sports betting, but the closest one to New York City, Resorts World Catskills Casino in Monticello, is about 100 miles away.

Even located miles from New York City, the four upstate resorts accepted $21.12 million in bets during December, according to figures this week from state regulators.

That total included $10 million at Rivers Casino Resort in Schenectady, $6.25 million at del Lago Resort Casino in Waterloo, $3.34 million at Resorts World Catskills, and $1.52 million at Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols.

The December handle was down 1.8% for November’s combined total.

New York Sports Betting, December vs. November

Louisiana Transparent About Pre-Launch Issues

While New York regulators have not specified the hang up in letting five online bookmakers accept bets, Louisiana’s top regulator has offered insight to Gambling.com regarding that state’s pre-launch efforts.

Louisiana’s Gaming Control Board chairman, Ronnie Johns, said mobile wagering is expected to begin there in time for the NFL’s Super Bowl on Feb. 13.

Each of Louisiana’s 20 state-regulated casinos will receive two “skins,” allowing them to partner with name-brand online bookmakers in accepting bets on mobile platforms such as smartphones and computers. The Louisiana Lottery Corp. also will receive a skin.

Johns told Gambling.com one issue remaining to be resolved is whether mobile geofencing will work to block sports betting in the nine of 64 parishes that voted against it in a 2020 statewide election.

“I’ve got the Super Bowl in my sights,” Johns told Gambling.com.

Other NY Sportsbooks Expected to Launch in NY