New York legislators convened at the Sports Betting USA conference in New York this week, where the possibility of the legalization of mobile betting in the state was discussed.
As operators, investors and lawmakers discussed the latest trends of the business, New York continues to watch rival states eat up profits while the Empire State punts on enacting any legislation.
New York Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr., a vocal supporter of passing a bill to allow mobile sports gambling, has previously called the state’s inaction “embarrassing.”
Despite Democrats holding majorities in both houses of the state legislature, the party has yet to put a bill on the table for fear of a veto from Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo.
New Yorkers currently must travel out of state to wager on sports.
New Jersey regulated online sports betting in 2018 and now receives 80% of its sports wagering revenue from phones and laptops.
Addabbo Jr. previously told Gaming America: "We’re watching tens of millions of dollars go across the border to New Jersey and I keep telling the Governor’s people we have illegal activity going on here that we aren’t regulating – mobile sports betting.”
According to New York Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, up to 40% of money being wagered in New Jersey would be placed in New York if mobile betting legislation was passed.
New York state is home to nine professional sports franchises.
