Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. from New York is of the opinion that there is a large market for sports betting across the state. He is trying hard to prove it correct and is seeking help from the New York State Gaming Commission.
Recently the agency had issued a request to research firms for conducting a new gaming study. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the desire for expanded NY sports betting as well as its potential impacts both inside and outside the state.
In one of the press releases Addabbo said that: “The major detraction against sports betting in New York is that there is no appetite for it. The study proposed by the NYS Gaming Commission aims to find out exactly that. It has been observed that the money belonging to our state is presently going to New Jersey and surrounding states that allow mobile sports betting through sbobet like websites. We should therefore develop a gaming industry plan that could maximize the potential of addressing the issues related to problematic gaming.”
He further added that opposition from Gov. Andrew Cuomo can be partially blamed for the lack of online betting in New York. He is of the opinion that Sports betting does not make that much money and there is no economic benefit to the Sate.
In his preposition Addabbo requested the Senate to pass a bill which would allow upstate casinos to take online and mobile bets state wide that would include affiliates at racetracks, off-track betting parlours and sports facilities. The bill was successfully passed during the final week of the legislative session in June after getting the nod from Assemblyman Gary Pretlow. Gary told Legal Sports Report that the bill easily had the votes to pass the Assembly.
However, Speaker Carl Heastie declined to call it for a vote in spite the governor indicating he would veto the bill. The sponsors worked to address both issues viz: – ‘Legal opinions that online betting met constitutional requirements’ and ‘Strengthening problem gambling measures in the final bill’.
Addabbo countered the remarks from the opposition by pointing out that “In May when New Jersey passed Nevada in sports betting handle it generated $318.9 million in total wagers. Approximately 25% of its NJ customers are New York residents. The money realized could help our students and citizens as Eighty percent of tax revenue generated from gaming goes directly to educational funding.
