How To Bet On Sports In Nyc
With New York facing a $15 billion budget shortfall from the coronavirus pandemic, online sports betting is viewed as one possible way to inject much-needed money into the state. New Jersey legalized online wagers in 2018, and earlier this month, Governor Andrew Cuomo included an online professional sports betting plan in his executive budget proposal that he claimed would raise $500 million in revenue for the state.
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- How To Bet On Sports In Nyc Today
- How To Bet On Sports In New York Online
You will need to be at least 21 years old to place a bet in New York. You will be able to bet on both professional and college sports. The sportsbooks will be licensed and regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission. Mobile and online betting are not included. With New York facing a $15 billion budget shortfall from the coronavirus pandemic, online sports betting is viewed as one possible way to inject much-needed money into the state. During the same period, retail sports betting generated $6.2 million for sports betting operators in New York. Through the first 10 months of 2020, approximately 91% of legal sports wagers in New Jersey were placed through mobile/online platforms. Legal New York sports betting is alive and well and has been since it first began at New York betting venues in July 2019. New York sports betting has been limited to physical sportsbooks, present in nearly twelve commercial and tribal casinos upstate. New York is considering legalizing online sports betting, having seen how well New Jersey has profited. “It's certainly going to happen,” Hoover said about the prospect of New York making.
But many logistical hurdles remain. Cuomo’s proposal for legalization runs counter to what the Democratic supermajority in the state legislature is pitching. Some authorities are questioning the legality of the whole enterprise. And there are lingering concerns about gambling and addiction, particularly with the number of people sequestered at home and the opportunities that could be suddenly available to lose significant amounts of cash.
“I don’t see the governor’s proposal as workable in New York,” said Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, the chairman of the Committee on Racing and Wagering.
Right now, you can place horse racing bets on your smartphone through an app run by the not-for-profit corporation that oversees horse racing in New York’s three major tracks. Mobile betting for professional sports could theoretically function in a similar way. Currently, the servers for horse betting are located at the racetracks.
In both Cuomo and the legislature's proposals, the servers for mobile sports betting would be situated at places where bets are already taken, like casinos. The major overriding question is how many operators, or “skins,” as they are called in the industry, there will be, and who will get to profit.
Under Cuomo’s proposal, which still needs to be fleshed out further, the New York State Gaming Commission would be directed to solicit bids for a small number of mobile sports wagering operators. The system would be akin to how the state-run lottery functions, with possibly only one or a small number of operators overseeing sports betting. A single operator runs online sports betting in New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. Overall, sports betting is now legal in more than two dozen states.
Robert Mujica, Cuomo’s budget director, said earlier this month that the advantage of the state proposal would be the ability to maximize tax revenue. “The fundamental question is: if you want to support the bottom line for casinos or New York’s students. And the governor’s proposal chooses students,” Mujica told the Wall Street Journal. (An identical statement was sent to Gothamist from Freeman Klopott, a budget spokesman for Cuomo.)
It’s not clear yet what Cuomo’s tax rate would be for his online betting model, though Mujica has asserted that it would be enough to raise $500 million a year. The state legislative proposal, co-sponsored by Pretlow and the chairman of the State Senate’s Racing and Wagering Committee, Joseph Addabbo, puts the number closer to $100 million annually.
At first glance, that would seem to make Cuomo’s proposal the better one, given the potential for serious state budget cuts without new forms of revenue. But lawmakers and some gambling industry insiders aren’t so sure. In New Jersey, which is generally viewed as a success given the number of people who place bets, there are as many as 17 legal online sportsbooks.
New York’s legislature is looking to take a similar approach, believing their proposal has a better opportunity for growth—more operators can lead to more options for consumers and more interest in placing bets. Addabbo calls his legislation “inclusive,” because it would also allow for Native American casinos, casinos on state property, and off-track betting sites to participate.
“Competition bodes better for our residents and will drive up revenues than being a narrow state-run lottery kind of system,” Addabbo argued. “New York finds itself in a very odd position not being a leader. We are outside looking in. New York right now is a three-wheeled car limping along in the right lane. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are speeding by us.”
Bennett Liebman is a government lawyer in residence at Albany Law School who previously advised Cuomo as the deputy secretary for Gaming and Racing. He said the difference between the two models is a question of what is being prioritized: more tax revenue, or a better model, long-term, for consumers and gambling interests?
“It all depends on what you want in your market. If you want what the governor is seeking, which the draft is very general, you are looking for maximum tax revenue, you will give it to one or two groups and you are going to tax them at a very high rate,” Liebman said. “If you are looking to create a robust market to help out casinos and consumers, then you go with, or you are more inclined to go with, the legislative plan.”
Liebman called the Cuomo administration’s $500 million revenue figure for online sports betting “very, very high,” and predicted a few operators would dominate the space in New York, like DraftKings and FanDuel have done in New Jersey. Casinos, racetracks, and online gambling in total generated a little more than $300 million in tax revenue for New Jersey in 2020.
Even if New York reached Cuomo’s projections—let alone the far smaller figure from the state legislature—online sports betting would represent only a minuscule fraction of a state budget that was $177 billion last year. One question hanging over the debate is whether the united front fighting for mobile sports betting in New York—the currently existing casinos, and operators like DraftKings and FanDuel—would crumble if only a small number of them were selected to make money from sports betting.
According to a constitutional amendment passed in 2013, sports wagering in New York is currently allowed only in physical portions of its four existing commercial casinos and other facilities operated by Indian tribes. Cuomo and supporters of online sports betting believe their proposal will meet the requirements of the state constitution by locating the servers for the betting websites at the physical casinos.
Neil Murray, an Albany attorney who has sued to oppose gambling in the state, said there was a “legitimate, serious question” about the constitutionality of online sports betting.
“The problem right now is the constitutional amendment that was passed several years ago does carve out exceptions for gambling at casinos. The operative word is ‘at’ and what does that mean?”
Murray argued the way the amendment was proposed—an economic stimulus for destination casinos that would prevent the proliferation of gambling statewide—contradicts the arguments made for mobile sports betting today. “If you allow online gambling and people can gamble from their living rooms, then of course that destroys the whole purpose on which gambling was authorized on a limited basis to begin with,” he said. “Everybody is counting on collective amnesia.”
Pretlow, the state assemblyman, contended that his bill met the requirements of the state constitution but Cuomo’s would not if it chose to operate like the state lottery. The lottery is regarded as a game of pure chance with no skill involved, allowing it to circumvent a longtime prohibition on gambling in the state.
“The lottery has to be 100 percent chance. The lottery is not gambling,” Pretlow said. “It’s flip a coin, heads or tails, nothing in the middle. I think if the lottery were to handle sports betting, it would lead to a constitutional question.”
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NY sports betting is now up and running! It’s not online just yet, but a handful of upstate land-based casinos are now offering sportsbooks.
With that in mind, I’m an experienced sports bettor who is gearing up for the impending legalization of online sports betting in New York – and I want you to be ready for when this happens. As such, I’ve road-tested the best sportsbooks that will soon be available to New York bettors.
In this article, I’m going to take a look at the top 5 sports betting sites in New York, and I’ll also explain exactly how sports betting works in this fine state. I’ll end by answering your most popular questions on NY sports betting.
Top 5 Sportsbooks In New York
Bear in mind that these 5 sites are land-based sportsbooks. For the moment, you cannot bet on sports online in NY. Instead, you could drive to nearby New Jersey, sign-up to one of these sites, and place a bet there.
| RANK | SPORTBOOK | FEATURES | PLAY |
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How Online Sports Betting Works In New York
New York Sports Betting Launch
Sports gambling was legalized and launched in New York back in 2013. The state passed the upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act, and the measure allowed four (as then unbuilt) casinos to accept sports bets.
Up until that point, casinos were not allowed to accept sports wagers from customers.
Fast-forward to 2019, and the New York State Gaming Commission finally allowed more Upstate casinos to accept sports bets. As long as the casinos were able to obtain a license, they could open up sportsbooks. Rivers was the first casino in New York to get that license, and they were, therefore, the first land-based casino to accept a 100% legal sports bet.
As of the time of writing, there are plans in place to get online sports wagering in New York legalized too.
How To Bet On Sports?
If you’ve never bet on sports before, you might be thinking that sports wagering sounds a tad complicated. The good news is that it’s simple!
The first thing you need to do is find a legal sportsbook with everything you want (sports variety, good welcome bonuses, clean user interface, etc.). Then, just register an account.
Once that’s all done, you’ll need to make a first deposit before grabbing the welcome bonus. Next, take a look at the sporting events on offer. What markets and lines appeal to you? What type of bet do you fancy? I’ll be covering the different types of bets a little later in this article.
Once you’ve found a bet that you like the look of, the next step is to take a look at the odds. Is there value in this bet?
If there’s value and you want to press ahead, decide your stake. Once you enter your stake, the betting site will automatically calculate your potential winnings. For example, if the odds are 6/1 and your stake is $1, you will win $7.
If you’re satisfied, all you need to do next is place your bet and wait for the outcome.
Which New York Casinos Have Sportsbooks?
There are just a handful of upstate casinos that have been able to open sportsbooks:
Rivers Casino
Rivers was the first upstate casino that obtained a sports betting license. Their online sportsbook is called BetRivers, but if you’re within the New York area, you have to place your sports bets at their brick and mortar casino. If, on the other hand, you venture outside New York to a stage where sports betting is legal, you can place a bet at BetRivers.
Betting markets include all the popular ones, such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, and the desktop and mobile versions of the site offer streamlined experiences.
Because Rivers hosts more table games than most other casinos in NW, it’s ideal if you want to flitter between the casino and the sportsbook. It’s a great place to make a whole day of it.
Tioga Downs (FanDuel)
Tioga Downs is a casino resort located in Nichols, New York. It added the FanDuel sportsbook in 2019 after sports betting was legalized in NY. You can access the sportsbook inside the Tioga Downs Casino Resort facility.
This means that you need to place your bets on paper slips provided by the house. Once you’ve written down your bet, you just need to take it to one of the betting windows.
FanDuel also has a website where you can play daily fantasy sports, but you need to be operating within a state where online sports betting is legal before you can place an online sports bet.
del Lago Resort Casino (DraftKings)
Del Lago Resort Casino is a popular land-based casino located in the Waterloo area of NY. The DraftKings sportsbook was added in 2019, and you just need to visit the casino to access the sports betting facility.
DraftKings is a huge name in the daily fantasy sites scene. Its sportsbook is open 24/7 inside the del Lago Resort Casino, and there are real-time live odds boards, as well as up-to-date statistics to help you make better, more informed bets. This makes it ideal for those who are serious about their sports and bets.
There are also more than 30 beers available on tap.
Syracuse (Turning Stone)
Turning Stone is an award-winning casino located in Verona, NY. It offers a diverse array of entertainment and events, and along with its casino and sportsbook, there are also dining areas for when you want to sit back and relax before placing your next bet.
Syracuse, which is located inside the Turning Stone casino resort, is New York’s biggest sports betting lounge. It’s a 9,000 square foot lounge that comes complete with a sports bar, and a gigantic 32-foot LED screen + 35 large screen televisions. It’s especially ideal for sports bettors who want to be able to relax and enjoy the games they’re betting on in a classy environment.
New York Online Sports Betting Partnerships
An online sportsbook will only be able to offer sports gambling opportunities once they’ve secured a gaming partner. As soon as sports wagering is 100% legal in New York, I’ll amend this section to know exactly who the New York online sports betting partnerships are.
What Can You Bet On Right Now In New York?
If you go into any of the aforementioned land-based casinos and visit their sportsbook, there is a whole wealth of sports you can bet on right now. These include but are not limited to:
- NBA
- NFL
- NHL
- MLB
- College football
- College basketball
- Soccer
- Golf
- Cricket
- Tennis
- Motorsports
- Horse racing
- Volleyball
- Handball
- Boxing
- UFC
Some sportsbooks, such as DraftKings, offer more sports variety than others. They also offer more lines. All sportsbooks offer lines on the most popular sports, however. So if you want to bet on American sports – for example – you can walk into any of the aforementioned casinos and take your pick.
What Bets Are Available At New York Sportsbooks?
There are numerous types of bets you can place at a New York sportsbook. These include:
Straight bet – The straight bet is the most popular type of sports bet. It’s usually used for sports like basketball, football, and even soccer. The sportsbook sets a betting line (point spread), and it’s then up to you to bet on the favorite of the underdog.
If you opt for the favorite, they have to win by more than the point spread for you to win your bet. If you opt for the underdog, they just have to win outright (or, at least, lose than the point spread).
Money line – This bet is similar to the straight bet. The only difference is that there’s no point spread. It’s a straightforward bet in which you pick either the favorite or the underdog to win a particular sporting event outright.
How To Place Sports Bet
Total line bet – Another popular bet, the total line bet is a lot of fun. The sportsbook chooses a combined final score for a particulate sporting event (for example, let’s imagine the Lakers are playing the Clippers in the NBA. The sportsbook decides the combined final score will be 195). It’s up to you to determine whether the real combined final score will be higher or lower
Taking Advantage of Bonuses and Rewards
When online sports betting in NY is eventually legalized, you should look to take advantage of bonuses and rewards as soon as possible.
How To Bet On Sports In Nyc Right Now
When signing up to a sportsbook, here are some bonuses and rewards you should look out for:
- Welcome bonus – The welcome bonus is the first bonus you get treated to. To claim it, you usually just have to create an account and make the first deposit. Sometimes, you just need to create an account.
Welcome bonuses vary in size and type from sportsbook to sportsbook. Generally, most sports betting sites offer a match deposit welcome bonus up to X amount. For example, a 50% match deposit bonus means you’ll get treated to $100 on the house if you make a first deposit of $200.
- Reload bonuses – Some betting sites offer bonuses each time you make subsequent deposits. These bonuses are typically smaller than the first deposit bonus, but they still represent great ways to win more money without staking too much of your own.
- Bonus on losses – Sometimes, a sportsbook runs a reward scheme that reimburses a percentage of your losses on specific sports or events. For example, it might reimburse you 10% of all losses on March Madness
- VIP Schemes – The best sports betting sites, such as FoxBet, offer VIP schemes, or loyalty points. The idea is that you accrue more points each time you make a deposit or place a bet. Over time, you can redeem these points for perks, such as cash or free bets.
- Free spins – If you bet at a sportsbook-come-casino, the site in question may top up your account now and then with free spins that can be used on specific slots games.
New York Sports Betting Laws
Sports betting is legal in New York, but you must be aged 21 years to place a bet. You must also place a bet with a fully licensed casino/sportsbook, and you cannot place a bet online, either via desktop or your mobile device, in NY.
NY Sports Betting FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Is Sports Betting Legal In New York?
Sport gambling is legal in New York at land-based casinos and sportsbooks. Online sports betting is still illegal at the time of writing.
When Can New York Residents Start Placing Bets?
You can place bets right now at a licensed brick and mortar casino. However, if you want to place an online sports bet, you need to take a trip to a state that has legalized online sports betting, such as nearby New Jersey.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Legally Bet In New York?
21.
Is It Legal To Bet On New York Sports Teams?
Best Bets In Sports
Absolutely! If you want to bet on the Knicks, the Yankees, and so on, you’re free to do so. As long as you’re betting on legal sports, you’re free to bet on whoever you want.
Do I Have To Live In New York To Bet Online?
If you place a bet with a land-based New York sportsbook, you don’t need to be a resident.
How To Bet On Sports In Ny
Is Mobile Sports Betting Available In New York?
How To Bet Sports Online
At the moment, mobile sports betting is prohibited in New York. Mobile sports betting will be available as soon as online sports betting is legalized.
How To Bet On Sports In Nyc Today
Conclusion
How To Bet On Sports In New York Online
NY sports betting is officially up and running, and online sports betting is expected to follow shortly. For now, you’re free to visit the land-based casinos and their sportsbooks, and you can also sign up to a site like FoxBet or DraftKings, but you must be within a state where sports betting is legal to place a bet.