Operators clash with NY Senate over league data requirement for in-play bets
Hills and Sci Games argue the mandate will give leagues a monopoly over data if operators are required to use their stats for in-play and live bets in the state
Operators have urged the New York Senate to reconsider the requirement to use official sports league data for in-play and live betting, as outlined in Senator Joseph Addabbo’s sports betting bill in January.
Representatives for William Hill, FanDuel and Scientific Games this morning argued sports leagues would have an unfair power over pricing that would make legal mobile betting products less attractive than offshore offerings.
The mandate, featured in Addabo’s updated January bill, states all in-play and live bets made via retail or online must use official league data to settle wagers.
On the issue, James Sottile, chief legal officer at Scientific Games told the Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering: “That’s not how you make an industry successful, you make it successful through choice.”
William Hill’s head of government relation in the US Danielle Boyd agreed, adding the move would give monopoly pricing power to leagues and stunt the competitiveness of operators’ offerings.
Boyd told the committee in-play bets accounted for 30% of William Hill’s Nevada business. At present only Tennessee requires online operators to only use sports league data.
During the session, operators also requested that the House increase the number of online licenses up for grabs.
Arguing in favour of statewide mobile and online betting, the panel suggested that mobile betting would offset the issue of down-state bettors going into New Jersey.
FanDuel president Kip Levin said 25% of the operator’s online activity in New Jersey came from New York residents.