New York Gambling Commission delays mobile betting study
Gaming lawyer Dan Wallach plays down impact of the study as state reports September betting revenues of over $1.4m
The New York State Gambling Commission (NYSGC) has delayed its mobile betting market study until the state budget in April 2020.
The NYSGC put out a tender for the study in August to consider the impact of mobile betting on the state.
Gaming lawyer Dan Wallach said the delay was unlikely to affect the legalization of mobile betting in the state.
“I don’t think it will really matter for sports betting, you just have to look at New Jersey and the reported numbers to see the economic upside of mobile betting in New York,” Wallach told EGR North America.
“The legislature already wants to pass a mobile sports betting bill and the Senate passed a bill last year.
“Assemblyman Pretlow believes he has enough support on his side to pass the bill in his chamber,” Wallach said.
Wallach said the bill will be discussed early in the next legislative period which starts in January.
NY Senator Joseph Addabbo this week reiterated his desire to push through a mobile betting law as soon as possible.
“With New York not allowing mobile sports betting, our revenue will continue to be poured into New Jersey and surrounding states that have mobile sports betting, in addition to a missed opportunity for increased educational funding that is generated from our state’s gaming operations and creation of new jobs,” he said in a statement.
Addabbo told EGR: “I still think the study will be a useful tool next year before we end the session, and I still remain optimistic that we can do something (on mobile sports betting) within the budget, with or without the study.”
Three of the four retail sportsbooks operating in the state reported a combined revenue of $1.4m in September, with Rivers in Schenectady not announcing its earnings.