New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo has set out his aims for the US state to launch a legal sports wagering market by early next year, in time for the 2022 edition of the National Football League’s Super Bowl.
Last week, New York took a step closer to regulated mobile betting after a bill for the state’s FY 2022 budget contained provisions for legal mobile sports betting, revealing a $25m (£18m/€21m) licence fee and bidding process for potential licensees.
Addabbo is a staunch supporter of mobile sports wagering in the state and has been lobbying for this to be legalised for a number of years. Consumers in New York are currently limited to land-based betting at four of the state’s casinos.
With the inclusion of mobile wagering provisions in the budget bill, Addabbo said he is hopeful this will lead to legalisation within the next year, potentially before the NFL’s showpiece Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.
The state’s Gaming Commission is set to start the creation of the mobile sports betting process and begin to accept bids from sportsbook providers this July.
“Legalising mobile sports betting will bring in the funds needed by the state that will go towards funding our education system, problem gambling awareness programs and creating jobs,” Addabbo said.
(Photo: flickr)
