New York Lawmaker Introduces iGaming Bill

With New York mobile sports betting off to a blistering start, a legislator now wants to let bettors use their smartphones to try their luck on electronic table games and slots.

This week, Sen. Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens, introduced Senate Bill 8412 to authorize iGaming in the state. The bill has been referred to the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. Addabbo is the committee chairman. A hearing date has not been posted.

If the full Legislature approves the bill, it will go to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul for her consideration. The legislative session, which began Jan. 5 in Albany, is scheduled to end on June 2.

Mobile Sports Betting Wins Praise From Governor

While it is too early to tell whether the governor would sign off on an iGaming bill, she has expressed enthusiasm for mobile sports betting’s early success in New York.

In the 30 days after mobile wagering began Jan. 8, bettors across New York placed nearly $2 billion in wagers, a nationwide record, earning the state more than $70 million in tax revenue.

Hochul said these figures demonstrate that sports wagering “can be an economic engine for New York, driving significant funding to our schools, youth sports, and so much more.”

"As this new industry continues to grow, New York will make sure we have the resources and guidelines in place to make it a success for all,” she said in a statement.

With about 20 million residents, New York is the fourth most populous state, behind California, Texas and Florida. The three states ahead of New York in population size do not have legal sports betting.

New York City Casinos Eyed

With mobile sports wagering off and running in New York and iGaming under consideration, some legislators are pushing for three of the best online casino sites to open in the New York City region.

The closest full casino to New York City is the Resorts World Catskills Casino, about 100 miles north of the country’s largest metropolitan area, home to more than eight million residents.

In the New York City area, two gaming properties already offer slot-style video lottery terminal games. These properties are Genting’s Resorts World at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens and MGM Resorts’ Empire City, a harness raceway in Yonkers north of the Bronx.

These downstate casinos are not allowed to offer more than the machines currently in operation. However, Addabbo has said he envisions Empire City and Resorts World being awarded licenses to become full Las Vegas-style casinos.

In 2013, New York voters approved seven commercial casino licenses. Four state-regulated casinos have been opened in upstate New York. Three were slated to be opened later at downstate sites. Beginning in 2019, the upstate properties were allowed to offer on-site sports betting.

In addition to these resorts, seven tribal casinos are in operation in New York.