A New York state proposal to permit mobile athletic wagering stands to get needed support by the end of the year following this week’s election, according to state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens).
The chairman of the Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, Addabbo says his fellow senators and assembly members now have more interest in the bill — S17D — because it can generate revenue to fund worthy state programs.
The bill failed to get adequate support in the prior legislative session. Sports betting is permitted only at upstate commercial casinos and tribal gaming properties.
Given legal, out-of-state sports betting options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey — as well as illegal gambling operations — New York state is missing out on $1B a year, Addabbo said.
New York legislators are watching neighboring states raise revenue from legal sports bets. “They see we can do it properly,” Addabbo told Casino.org.
We can’t decline revenue,” Addabbo said. “We don’t have the luxury.”
He predicts the additional revenue would ward off “deep cuts” to such expenses as healthcare and education.
“We need substantial, reliable, consistent revenue in our state,” he added. Legislators cannot rely on possible revenue from proposed federal stimulus funds.
Addabbo also wants to see the three unassigned New York downstate gaming licenses issued sooner than 2023, when they are scheduled to be assigned.
Previously, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also a Democrat, opposed statewide mobile sports betting, calling it unconstitutional.
Online Sports Betting Not Priority
Even though Addabbo sees online sports betting adoption as important, it was not an issue for the voters he met during the 2020 campaign.
“This is not on the top of the list,” Addabbo said. “This is not on the list at all.”
The key constituent concerns were COVID-19, employment, and unemployment, he said.
To give an example of how the region can benefit, Addabbo noted Resorts World Casino New York City, located in Queens, employs over 1,000 workers. Resorts World New York City also generated over $3 billion in state educational funding.
Massachusetts May Address Post-Election
Elsewhere in the Northeast, in Massachusetts there were no ballot questions about casinos this election, according to Maurice T. Cunningham, a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
“The only issue [for Massachusetts voters] is whether or not their legislator would approve sports
gambling and in what form,” said the Rev. Richard McGowan, a finance professor at Boston College, who closely follows gambling trends, to Casino.org.
The issue of sports gambing has fairly well been decided [in much of New England]. The only real controversy is whether or not to allow online sports gambling,” McGowan added.
As far as the proposed First Light Resort & Casino in Taunton, Massachusetts, and federal action to protect the troubled, tribal property, McGowan said, “This really depends upon who is elected President.
“If President Trump wins, the proposed Native American casino in Taunton would be challenged. If Mr. Biden wins, this casino should have no trouble being approved.”
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