On Monday, New York Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow introduced a bill to allow off-track betting (OTBs) and professional sports stadiums and venues to have mobile betting kiosks. Also, New York’s upcoming mobile betting options would be expanded with fixed-odds horse wagering.
Pretlow’s bill A8538 is in line with Senate bill S.7536, which was introduced by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. on November 19, 2021. Both lawmakers oversee the Standing Committees on Racing and Wagering in the New York State Legislature, and were key negotiators during discussions that resulted in legalization of New York’s mobile sports betting through the state budget in April 2021. Addabbo had previously pushed for stadium sports betting as well, but failed to find enough support.
New York is all set to launch mobile betting via nine recently licensed sportsbook operators ahead of the 2022 Super Bowl next February. The final set of rules states licenses lasting 10 years, a $25 million fee and a matrix setting a 51% gross revenue tax rate. Wagers will also not be allowed on a game in which a New York college team is playing.
New York Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow.
Bill A8538 reads in one of its key items: “Subject to regulations promulgated by the commission, mobile sports wagering operators may enter into agreements with affiliates to locate self-service mobile sports betting kiosks that are owned, operated and maintained by the mobile sports wagering operator and connected via the Internet to the mobile sports wagering licensee’s server or other equipment used to accept mobile sports wagering at a licensed gaming facility pursuant to this section upon the premises of the affiliate. Authorized sports bettors may place account wagers, and place and redeem non-account cash wagers at such kiosks.”
Some of the stadiums that could add sportsbooks are Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium and the Mets’ Citi Field. The Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct racetracks would also be allowed to install kiosks. The same four upstate casinos will handle all mobile sports bets.
However, if the bill is approved, sportsbooks would need to wait 12 months before the state approves agreements with horse tracks or the Aqueduct video slots facility, so in-track sports betting kiosks would not launch before late 2022. And mobile sports betting kiosks at New York’s professional sport arenas and stadiums couldn’t be authorized by the state until after 20 months following approval of Pretlow’s bill.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2021/12/15/60621-new-york-instadium–racetrack-mobile-sportsbooks-could-open-via-new-bill
