New York Sports Betting – When Will NY Mobile Sportsbook Apps Launch?

Earlier this year former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislators reached an agreement on mobile sports betting for the fiscal year 2022 budget. The New York State Gaming Commission released a Request For Applications (RFA) to set out the process of bidding and licensing. In August 2021, the NYSGC released a list of six bidding groups, giving us our first insight into potential New York sports betting apps. As it stands, New York sports betting is inching closer to becoming a reality.

New York Betting Options

As of September 2021, New York online sports betting is not yet available. We expect online sportsbook apps to launch in time for the 2022 Super Bowl. There are a variety of New York sportsbook locations throughout Upstate New York. These are retail sportsbooks where bets can be placed in person.

New York’s retail sportsbooks offer a wide range of wagers on all major sports. The southernmost location is Resorts World Catskills. The northernmost is Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort near the Canadian border. Most are spread across Upstate from Albany to Buffalo.

There are two major restrictions that New York bettors should be aware of. Sports bettors are unable to wager on in-state college schools, and mobile sports betting is not currently available. State legislators and former Gov. Cuomo reached an agreement to move forward on launching mobile apps, and the application process has begun. It will take time for the apps to be chosen, approved, and launched. We have you covered with live updates in the section below, so you always have the latest info. 

For now, bettors in New York can place online bets by crossing the border to make mobile bets in New Jersey or in Pennsylvania. 

How To Place A Bet In New York Today

Retail Sportsbooks In New York

If you want to bet on sports while inside the state of New York, you’ll have to visit a retail sportsbook and bet in person. Some of these sportsbooks, such as Sportsbook 360 at Resorts World Catskills, allow you to view the bets online before you visit. All will take phone calls inquiring about the lines they’re offering.

New York City does not have any retail sportsbooks despite having land-based casinos. The closest in-state option is Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, which is 90 miles from Manhattan. Here is the full list of New York retail sportsbooks.

Online Sportsbooks In New Jersey Or Pennsylvania

Some New Yorkers may find it easier to simply cross the border into New Jersey or Pennsylvania to bet online. As long as you’re at least 21 and physically located within state lines, you can wager at any of the legally licensed online sportsbooks in those states.

Our favorite NJ & Pennsylvania Sportsbooks for New York residents:

• BetMGM Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook

New York Retail Sportsbook Locations

Upcoming sporting events available for betting

• NFL: Houston at Buffalo; Tennessee at N.Y. Jets; N.Y. Giants at New Orleans; Tampa Bay at New England – Sunday, Oct. 3
• MLB: Miami at N.Y. Mets; Boston at Baltimore; N.Y. Yankees at Toronto – Sept. 28-30
• UFC: Santos vs. Walker – Saturday, Oct. 2
• NASCAR – YellaWood 500 – Sunday, Oct. 3

New York Sports Betting Application Process: What We Know

New York sports bettors likely can expect legal online betting early in 2022, but it will be a state-run model rather than a competitive casino model. Initially, the industry thought this could lead to a less competitive market, but as the process progresses, it’s possible we could see more apps in New York than initially thought.

A Hybrid Model In New York

New York will be operating mobile betting under a hybrid model, that is neither lottery run, state-run, or commercially run. Initially, former Gov. Cuomo wanted a model similar to that in Oregon or as initially envisioned in Washington DC. This model is state-run, or lottery run with only one betting app available to bettors, leading to poor odds and no competition.

On the other end is a relative free-for-all, more commercial model, which we see in states like Michigan, New Jersey, and Arizona. These states have more than a dozen apps each, providing a competitive market with strong odds and lots of bonus opportunities for new bettors.

The New York model appears to be a hybrid of the two. When the legislation passed in the spring of 2021, it seemed that New Yorkers would see two betting platforms with a minimum of four apps.

The Bidding Process For New York Mobile Betting

New York released its Request For Applications in July 2021, opening up the application process for hopeful NY sports betting operators. The RFA sets forth a complex scoring system, which will be used to move certain operators forward in the process and cut others. Tax rates, industry expertise, experience, and promotional plans are all to be considered in the application process. Higher tax rates will give applicant operators a better score, thus increasing their chances of moving forward. There is also a bonus for operators with partnerships with local tribal casinos.

On Aug. 9, 2021, the NYSGC released a list of six bidding groups, that include some of the biggest names in the industry as well as some surprise partnerships.

Right now, the NYSGC has set Dec. 6, 2021, as the tentative deadline for the selection of applicants considered for licensure. This means NY sports bettors likely won’t be able to bet during the first few months of the 2021-22 NFL season, but sports betting could go live before the 2022 Super Bowl.

New York Sports Betting Outlook

The likely landscape of online sports betting in New York will be as follows:

• A minimum of two licensed sports betting platforms, or operators
• In total, a minimum of four skins, or sportsbooks, will be launched statewide
• Revenue share with the state would range between 12% and over 50%

For example, in New Hampshire, the lottery partnered with DraftKings to offer a single sportsbook provider. The state receives 51% of the revenue while DraftKings keeps 49%.

The model adopted in NY is thanks to former Gov. Cuomo’s push for the lottery model, stating that the goal is to make money for the state, not online sportsbooks. 

But in New Hampshire, sports bettors get the same DraftKings Sportsbook odds that you’d find anywhere else. If New York partners with a huge sportsbook brand like DraftKings, FanDuel, or both, it could be a fairly bettor-friendly market – certainly more so than it is now.

At the same time, less competition means you can’t shop around for the best odds and promotions as you can in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

Four sports betting brands already have retail sportsbooks in the state. These include:

• BetRivers
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings
• FanDuel New York

Because these sportsbooks have an existing presence in the state, they’re the most likely names to enter the market. 

Bidding Groups For A New York Mobile Betting License

The NYSGC released the list of bidding groups in August 2021. The list included:

1. bet365
2. Kambi – Bid includes Fanatics Sportsbook and Penn Sports (Barstool)
3. Betfair dba FanDuel – Bid includes Bally Bet, BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel
4. FOXBet
5. Kambi – Bid includes Caesars, Resorts World, PointsBet, Rush Street (BetRivers), and WynnBET
6. theScoreBet

Under the legislation and rules promulgated in 2021, the NYSGC must issue a license to a minimum of two of these groups. That’s a minimum, not a maximum, so it is unclear which apps will launch in the state.

Caesars and FOX Bet each have a partnership with a local tribal casino, which could give them the edge under the competitive bidding process. Caesars recently rebranded all William Hill apps as Caesars Sportsbook, which puts it in a strong position. The bid from Betfair, which includes powerhouse sports betting apps like BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings as well as Bally Bet, which has huge expansion plans for the next year, is a strong bet as well.

New York Sports Betting Revenue

In November 2020, sportsbooks across New York State generated $2,619,676 in revenue, which translated to $261,968 in state taxes. That’s incredibly low compared to the sports betting revenue in New Jersey ($931,620,415) and Pennsylvania ($491,910,713) in the same month.

The discrepancies are due to two main factors. Those states offer online sportsbooks, and New York City does not have any in-state retail sportsbooks.

Once New York State legalizes online sports betting, the state could see sportsbook revenue reach $3 billion by the end of 2021. According to State Budget Director Robert Mujica, legal mobile sports betting would increase tax revenue from $50 million to more than $500 million per year.

How New York Compares To Other States

New York Versus Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of just a few states that legalized all forms of online gambling: sports betting, casino games, and poker sites. All sites are also commercial companies under a casino model regulator, which means the sports betting odds are extremely competitive.

New York, on the other hand, will not legalize online casino gaming or poker sites. It will also have a state-run model for sports betting, which means the odds at New York’s online sportsbooks may be worse than what’s offered at Pennsylvania’s online sportsbooks.

Here is a complete list of online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania that New York residents can use as long as they’re inside PA state lines:

• Barstool Sports
• BetFred
• TwinSpires
• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• FOX Bet
• Parx
• SugarHouse
• Unibet

More will likely be added in 2021 as well, including 888 Sport.

New York Versus New Jersey

Like Pennsylvania, New Jersey offers legal online sportsbooks, online casinos, and poker sites that operate under the casino model. New Jersey also boasts the highest sports betting revenue in the country, even more than Nevada.

Interestingly, 20% of New Jersey’s sports betting revenue comes from New York City sports bettors visiting the Garden State. If New York’s model means worse odds than what’s offered in New Jersey, New Yorkers may continue to make the trip in high numbers.

By visiting the state, New York bettors over 21 can join any of the following New Jersey online sportsbooks. However, you must be physically present in New Jersey to wager:

• 888 Sport
• Bet365
• TwinSpires
• BetMGM
• Borgata Sports
• BetRivers
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• FOX Bet
• Golden Nugget Sports
• Hard Rock Sportsbook
• PointsBet
• PokerStars Sports
• SugarHouse
• theScore
• Unibet
• WynnBET

Incredibly, the market is still growing, and you can expect a few more to launch in 2021, including Barstool Sportsbook.

New York Betting Successes And Failures

New York Sports Betting Success

New York’s sportsbooks were never expected to do as well as states with online sports betting options. While sportsbook revenue continued to rise throughout the end of 2020, a few million dollars is nothing compared to the over $920 million generated monthly in New Jersey.

Now that New York is legalizing online sports betting by early 2022, it’s likely that in-state revenue will skyrocket from the retail-only numbers. But even with around 11 million more residents than New Jersey, it may not top its neighbor in revenue with an uncompetitive market.

But New York State may end up getting upwards of 50% of all in-state online sports betting revenue – while New Jersey taxes online sports betting revenue at 13%. Of that roughly $920 million per month the Garden State brings in, it gets about $118 million in taxes.

Even with mediocre odds, a legal online sportsbook in New York will likely generate at least that much or more.

NY Sports Betting Compromise?

One thing that could be categorized as a win for New York sports betting is the model the state has put forth. Originally, former Gov Andrew Cuomo campaigned hard for a lottery-run model, which would limit the number of operators and likely give bettors a worse experience than they could find in neighboring New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Cuomo did get his way, though proponents of a more casino-based model improved the state’s outlook. Now, there will at least be four sports betting skins.

Though it won’t be a wide-open market like New Jersey, New York will at least have a fair amount of competition among betting operators, which means an overall better experience for bettors.

Where Could New York Improve Online Gambling

Sports bettors in New York, particularly those in NYC, are taking their wagers to New Jersey. It can take under 10 minutes to get from certain parts of Manhattan via PATH or ferry, which is far easier than the two-hour drive up to Resorts World Catskills. 

Bottom line: New Yorkers are spending millions of dollars in more favorable sports betting markets. Some would reasonably consider that a massive legislative failure.

Both Iowa and Indiana launched online sports betting before Illinois. This meant Illinois had similar problems to New York, losing millions in tax revenue to neighboring states. Then, Illinois legalized a casino-style online sports betting market, and it’s currently the fourth-largest sports betting market in the US.

New York had the opportunity to follow Illinois’ example. Instead, it will have a more limited sports betting market, which could still send most existing online sports bettors across state lines.

At the same time, many New York residents may be waiting for legalization. This untapped market could be willing to forgo less favorable odds to legally bet online in-state – and make up for all the bettors who will take their money elsewhere. 

Basically, and no matter what the revenue numbers show, New York’s online sports betting rollout may be a disappointment for serious sports bettors as well as sports betting operators.

Legalization Effort In New York

On May 14, 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA, a 1992 bill restricting most states from offering legal sports betting. New York could then pass a bill legalizing sports betting.

Before that happened, New York Senate Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committee Chair John J. Bonacic sponsored a bill that would have established sports betting regulations ahead of the Supreme Court ruling. That bill was still active when he retired that same year, and State Senator Joseph Addabbo took over sponsorship of the bill when he became the new Committee Chair.

Despite Senator Addabbo’s efforts, mobile sports betting was not part of the deal. Instead, only retail sportsbooks in Upstate New York casinos could offer legal sports betting. 

On July 16, 2019, Schenectady’s Rivers Casino accepted the first legal sports bets, and seven additional retail sportsbooks have opened since. All the while, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo remained adamantly opposed to legalized online sports betting.

Then the coronavirus pandemic began. On top of a massive death toll, the state’s tax revenue dropped by more than $3 billion. To compensate for that, lawmakers proposed a budget proposal that legalized recreational marijuana use as well as online sports betting.

By early April 2021, an agreement had been reached between Gov. Cuomo and state lawmakers to bring mobile betting to New York. Now we’re in the thick of the licensing application process. Though it’s typically slow in most markets, it does tell bettors that New York is making progress toward launching full-scale online sports betting in early 2022. 

Timeline For New York Sports Betting

• December 21, 2018: Following the retirement of State Senator John J. Bonacic, Senate Bill S7900 found a new sponsor in State Senator Joe Addabbo, who took over as the New York Senate Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committee Chair.
• March 20, 2019: The NYSGC released regulations regarding sports betting, triggering a 60-day comment period.
• June 10, 2019: The NYSGC approved retail sportsbook licenses for four commercial casinos and all tribal casinos in the state. 
• July 16, 2019: Rivers Casino Schenectady opened the first legal sportsbook in New York State at its in-house Rivers Sportsbook. 
• September 4, 2019: By this day, six additional sportsbooks were open at commercial and tribal casinos across the state: Sportsbook 360 at Resorts World Catskills; DraftKings Sportsbook at del Lago Casino Resort; FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs; and three Caesars Sportsbook locations at Turning Stone, Point Place, and Yellow Brick Road.
• November 27, 2019: The new Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in Hogansburg by the Canadian border accepted its first sports bet at the in-house PlaySports Sportsbook by IGT. New Yorkers now have seven options across every corner of Upstate.
• January 6, 2021: Gov. Cuomo, a major opponent of online sports betting in New York, announced that the state will finally legalize it in 2021.
• March 31, 2021: Lawmakers negotiated the 2021 New York budget up until the April 1, 2021 deadline. There were signs of negotiation late on March 31, of a hybrid state-lottery-run and commercial model, so the hope was still alive.
• April 2, 2021: The April 1 budget deadline came and went, and the budget remained incomplete. Gov. Cuomo stuck to his goal of wanting a lottery-run model but looked willing to negotiate and allow a handful of casino-operated sports betting skins.
• April 5, 2021: Gov. Cuomo intimated that negotiations were promising with state lawmakers as he continued to press for a state-run model without using casinos as middlemen.
• April 6, 2021: Gov. Cuomo and New York legislators reached a tentative agreement that would authorize a state-run model with 2 operators and a minimum of 4 sports betting skins. A revenue share agreement could also mean the state receives 50% of online sports betting revenue. Operators must respond to a request for a proposal before July 1, 2021. The NYSGC will select the two operators within 150 days.
• July 12, 2021: After missing a self-imposed deadline, New York finally released its Request for Applications. It also released a full scoring system and a tentative deadline for selecting the operators to be licensed. December 6 is currently the target approval date.
• August 9, 2021: The NYSGC released its list of the 6 bidding groups competing for licensing and launch of mobile betting in New York.

New York Teams

Professional Sports Teams

New York sportsbooks can offer any sort of bet on major league sports, including wagers on all New York teams. And New York boasts some of the best teams in the world. New York is also home to the largest number of professional teams of any region in the US. 

NFL Teams

The NFL inspires more sports bets than any other league in the US, and Super Bowl betting in New York is the busiest time of year at the sportsbooks.

The state’s three NFL teams are the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and New York Jets. 

While the Giants and the Jets play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, both are New York teams. If you attend a game, you can bet on your mobile device on New Jersey’s legal sports betting apps.

MLB Teams

New Yorkers bet millions every year on the Yankees and the Mets, a legendary crosstown rivalry. And their enormous fandoms span far beyond the boroughs in which they play. New York bettors can bet on these teams as well as all MLB teams in the US. 

NBA Teams

The New York Knicks are an organization best known for having talented teams that never win a championship. Like the Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets haven’t won a championship since the ABA and NBA merged in 1976, but New York bettors don’t shy away from betting on the underdog, especially if it’s an in-state team.

NHL Teams

The Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and New York Rangers represent the state of New York in the NHL. While the Stanley Cup has evaded all of them for close to 30 years, the NHL remains one of the most popular sports for New York betting.

MLS Teams

New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls are two teams that continue to grow in popularity – along with betting on MLS games. On top of international leagues and the World Cup, soccer fans always have a lot of betting opportunities at in-state sportsbooks.

College Sports Teams

While you can bet on college sports in New York, in-state schools are strictly off-limits. That means you can’t bet on Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, Army, or St. Johns at New York sportsbooks.

A popular workaround is to visit Pennsylvania or New Jersey to bet on New York colleges. In Pennsylvania, you can also bet on their in-state college teams. But in New Jersey, you can’t bet on a game that involves a New Jersey college, or any college game played in the state.

New York’s restriction on in-state colleges won’t change if the state legalizes online sports betting. Illinois also prohibits sports betting on in-state schools and games, but most states do not, including Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

Thankfully, sportsbooks across the state offer free-to-play March Madness bracket tournaments and other promotions surrounding sporting events involving in-state teams. So even if you can’t bet on Syracuse, you can still watch them play while betting on other games.

Other Sports To Bet On In New York

New York boasts world-renowned golf courses that often hold PGA Tour events. In September 2020, the Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester County hosted the U.S. Open Championship. Turning Stone Casino also offers both a sportsbook and golf course that hosts PGA events, all on the same Verona property.

Another New York favorite is betting on NASCAR and other auto racing events. Watkins Glen International hosts these events in every professional auto-racing sector, including the NASCAR Cup Series. 

Interestingly for sports bettors, Watkins Glen is one of only two NASCAR tracks where the competitors race clockwise, which adds a variable to an already exciting and unpredictable sport. Everywhere else, competitors race counterclockwise.

At all US sportsbooks, including those in New York, international soccer is one of the most popular choices for bettors. The English Premier League and other European divisions attract a large number of in-state wagers.

New York Sports Betting FAQs

More Resources On New York Sports Betting

• The New York State Gaming Commission website, with resources on rules and regulations, revenue reports, voluntary self-exclusion, and more
• Sports Betting Rules as enforced by the NYSGC
• New York Sports on ESPN has the latest coverage on both college and professional sports in the state
• The New York Times Sports section covers both local teams as well as national professional and college sports
• CNY Sports News courtesy of Syracuse.com
• Buffalo News Sports section covers athletics in Western New York
• Times Union Sports has the latest college and high school sports news in Albany and the Capital Region