BetMGM New York issued a press release May 28 announcing its new partnership deal with NYRA Bets. This is BetMGM’s first partnership in the horse racing industry.
Andrew Cuomo signed a budget bill last month that included a provision to legalize mobile wagering on sporting events. BetMGM figures to be one of the operators that will apply for a license to offer sports betting in New York, and this deal with NYRA Bets will give the platform more recognition in the New York betting market.
NYRA Bets Gained Popularity During the COVID-19 Pandemic
NYRA Bets is the New York Racing Association’s official online wagering platform. It launched in 2016 as a national online platform offering wagers on premier Thoroughbred, Harness, and Quarter Horse races.
The platform enjoyed rapid growth in 2020. During that time, horse racing was able to operate while most major sports were out of action amid COVID-19 restrictions. Horse betting in New York and around the country became more popular among sports fans and bettors. NYRA Bets President Tony Allevato commented on the popularity of the industry in the BetMGM press release:
“This is the type of partnership that reflects the importance of horse racing within the rapidly evolving sports betting marketplace. BetMGM has consistently led the charge to expand wagering opportunities for their customers, and we are thrilled that our horse racing content will soon be available on their platform.”
The NYRA Bets wagering platform is currently available in 30 states in the US. Teaming up with BetMGM stands to increase NYRA Bets’ exposure in those states and help with expansion into others as legal sports betting continues to roll out nationwide.
How BetMGM Plans To Utilize NYRA Bets
BetMGM plans to use NYRA Bets’ current wagering platform in the BetMGM Horse Racing app. The Horse Racing app can be downloaded on desktop or on Apple and Android devices.
The NYRA Bets app already offers horse racing fans the opportunity to watch and bet on live races from the comfort of their own homes. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt wants to continue to utilize these features to bring customers an engaging horse betting experience:
“We’ve found a great partner in NYRA Bets and look forward to working with them to create a thrilling, interactive experience for horse racing fans on BetMGM.”
Horse racing bettors can currently use the NYRA Bets app to bet on daily races year-round as well as major events including the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The 2021 Belmont Stakes is set to take place on Saturday, June 5.
