Not simply content with being home to the country’s largest sports betting market, New York Sen. Joe Addabbo wants to add online casinos and internet lottery to the mix as well.
In a statement touting the $1 billion in education funding raised from NY online sports betting taxes, Addabbo said the state could generate additional revenue by legalizing NY online casinos as well as online lottery.
Addabbo, chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, “has his sights on safely and professionally expanding upon the state’s gaming accomplishments by bringing more mobile betting to New York State,” according to a press release.
Addabbo: Add NY online casinos, iLottery to improve addiction services
Between January 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, legal NY online sports gambling generated $1.055 billion in taxes for education. Online sports betting taxes contributed $362.8 million to NY’s education system in 2023.
“Having an additional $1 billion from our nation-leading mobile sports betting business to help our students get the best education possible is a tremendous milestone,” Addabbo said.
“We should continue to build upon these solid revenue generating opportunities in order to make many additional improvements to our state’s gaming ventures and addiction services. I look forward to greater results with the future eventual arrival of iGaming and iLottery in New York.”
NY online lottery now on the table?
The Queens-based lawmaker has been the Empire State’s leading advocate for digital gambling expansion. Addabbo was the driving force behind legalizing mobile sports betting. Recently, he’s been crusading to tax and regulate online casinos.
Now, he’s adding online lottery to his worthy causes.
Addabbo said it is a “matter of when, not if” the state begins offering online casino and internet lottery. As Addabbo said to PlayNY:
“Going forward, this is something I think the state should consider. If you combine iLottery with iGaming, (we are) sitting on top of a billion dollars in revenue.”
He believes online casino and iLottery have the potential to rival, or even outperform, sports betting in NY. With the state’s legislative calendar nearing an end, Addabbo said he and his staff would spend the summer working on “crossing the Ts and dotting the Is” on a new New York online casino and online lottery proposal.
“I’m just gonna dig my heels in and get to work.”
