New York mobile sports betting is expected to launch statewide before the 2022 Super Bowl. But the nine sportsbooks that will be operating the betting market are mum about an exact date.
Requests sent this week by Gaming Today to several of the operators for comment on a potential launch date are still pending.
Two months have passed since eight mobile betting platforms partnered with nine operators were licensed on Nov. 8, 2021 by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC). The agency has said several specific requirements – including testing of the servers and licensing of employees with server access – must be met before a launch can happen.
“It will be up to the bidders when they become operational,” NYSGC staff said in November.
The NYSGC has yet to respond to Gaming Today’s Jan. 3, 2021 request for comment on the status of mobile betting readiness ahead of a New York launch.
What Could Be Holding Up A New York Launch?
New York mobile sports betting operators are FanDuel, Bally Bet, BetMGM, DraftKings, Rush Street Interactive, Caesars, Wynn Interactive, PointsBet, and Resorts World. They are licensed under a total of eight platform providers, most of which will double as operators.
All mobile betting platforms and their operators must meet NYSGC regulatory requirements before they can launch. It is uncertain which requirements still need to be met.
Specific requirements to be met, at a minimum, include:
– Licensing of key employees directly involved in operation of mobile sports wagering in New York
– Licensing of employees with access to betting servers at four upstate casinos where servers will be placed, and licensing of vendors
– Approval of internal controls, including those over user access, fraud identification, authorization of bettor accounts
– Laboratory review and certification of all equipment and software used in mobile sports wagering in New York
– Placement of betting servers in the casinos under the direction of the NYSGC
Which casino hosts which server will be decided by the NYSGC, according to the July 9 RFA. So far, none of these arrangements have been publicly announced.
Four upstate commercial casinos will host mobile sports betting in exchange for millions of dollars in fees under New York law and regulation. The casinos are Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, del Lago Resort & Casino, Resorts World Catskills, and Tioga Downs Casino.
New York Sen. Addabbo Expects Launch Mid-January
New York Sen. Joe Addabbo, D-Queens, helped legalize mobile sports betting through the 2021 state budget as chair of the Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee. He told Gaming Today in early November the mobile betting servers need to be fully operational at launch to avoid losing money in the long run.
“To recapture that money … we need to be successful,” Addabbo said. “That’s why I want it up and running well before the Super Bowl because the Super Bowl is the benchmark, in my opinion.”
On Dec. 24, Addabbo told Gaming Today in an email that a launch is likely in mid-January. That’s well ahead of the 2022 Super Bowl which has been the Senator’s long-standing goal.
“And given the growing anticipation along with New York’s stature in global sports, I believe with a premier product we have great potential to realize huge advances in revenue, educational resources, jobs, and new gaming addiction funding,” he added.
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