No Mobile Sports Wagering For New York

The timing of the coronavirus pandemic just happened to coincide with legislative sessions across the country, creating new problems to address. Many bills and state budgets have been passed through without as much attention as they usually get.
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York is receiving national attention as of late because of the reaction needed in his state to control this outbreak. As his attention is rightly elsewhere, this has left room for the mobile sports betting issue in New York to be debated next year.
New York does allow sports wagering, however, not via a mobile device. This is unlike its neighbor, New Jersey, that far outmatches it in sports betting revenue. According to Legal Sports Report, from July 2019 to January 2020, New York made $9.7 million in revenue compared to New Jersey’s $243 million.
Because of the revenue created from mobile wagering, New Jersey generated $36 million in taxes. Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. stated that approximately 25% of these mobile wagers are coming from New Yorkers.
Addabbo has been on the front lines of trying to get this bill passed but has come up against hard times from New York, and the country. After health issues settle, he might have a larger opportunity to see things through.
He spoke with Legal Sports Report and said, “When given the opportunity, I’ll inquire about mobile sports betting.”
Currently, New York is losing revenue to New Jersey every year this doesn’t get done. With that being said, lawmakers who are for this proposal are trying to find a way to get it done as soon as possible.
One way to do that is a constitutional amendment; however, that is a three-year process. Advocates like Senator Addabbo would hate for it to take that long.
Mobile Opponent
Governor Cuomo has been far from supportive. He said, “This is not the time to come up with creative although irresponsible revenue sources to solve a problem which doesn’t really exist.”
A lot of his concern lies around the idea he believes people should not be allowed to gamble from their phones. The state of New York has a $6 million budget deficit, and recently cut $10 billion in operational spending due to the coronavirus.
Addabbo estimates it could have generated $1.5 billion in state revenue over the 2020-21 fiscal year. Legislators like Addabbo see mobile sports wagering as a solution to the budget problem.
“Health care, education, and other cuts could have been minimized,” Addabbo said.
Sports wagering is a hot topic for states across the country. Many states have changed their laws regarding the topic or are on the way to do so. Seventeen states have legalized sports betting with another five about to be added.
It is only a matter of time before New York gets mobile sports wagering done. The question is, how soon?
Addabbo said, “New York calls itself excelsior (State motto which means “ever upward” in Latin). Well, in sports betting, we are clearly not excelsior.”
With New Jersey and Pennsylvania collecting the benefits from the success of mobile sports wagering, New York can only look on. But the COVID-19 cost concerns might generate an opportunity where the state looks for other forms of revenue.
Advocates of the bill are hoping to reconvene in the fall, hopefully forcing Governor Cuomo to reconsider.