New York Sports Betting Bill Expected To Clear Senate Committee, Headed To Floor Vote

UPDATE: NY SB 17D cleared the Rules Committee on Monday afternoon by a 57-5 vote, per a spokesperson for the Office of Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr.

• Sports betting bill NY SB 17D would permit statewide mobile sports wagering in New York and allow stadiums to host sports betting kiosks.
• Retail sports betting in NY is expected to launch at four upstate casinos later this year.
• The sports betting bill in the NY Assembly, NY A6113, is currently still in the Codes Committee.

ALBANY, N.Y. – It’s now or never for a New York sports betting bill to pass a legislative chamber this year. The bill poised to do so is SB 17D, which is expected to be passed by the Rules Committee on Monday. Once that happens, it will head to the Senate Floor later in the week for a full vote.

The proposed piece of legislation centers around mobile sports wagering in New York. There are currently four upstate casinos that were previously approved to host sportsbooks back in 2013 via voter referendum.

SB 17D would allow those casinos to host servers inside their establishments which would then power any state-wide mobile sports betting apps that launch in the state.

The bill also underwent another round of amendments last Friday which added in more specific details into how the expanded form of sports gambling would work. These changes include issues regarding tax rates, affiliate programs, sports wagering restrictions, and more.

Whether or not the changes will be enough for the bill to become law remains in question.

A similar sports betting bill in the NY Assembly, NY A6113 remains in the Codes Committee and hasn’t been officially added to the committee’s agenda yet.

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has recently stated that it’s possible for the bill to make it out of the legislature this year. But, his office has also remained wary of signing off for any sports wagering legislation due to the fact that the NY constitution requires any gambling expansion to be passed via voter referendum.

The bill will have to move quickly through the Senate to even be considered by Gov. Cuomo, as the legislature is planned to adjourn on June 19, 2019.

News tags: Gov. Andrew Cuomo | Joseph Addabbo Jr. | mobile sports betting | NY A6113 | NY SB 17 | NY Senate | Senate Finance Committee | Senate Rules Committee