Could legal online sports betting in New York launch as soon as next week?
That timeline would certainly match up with what State Sen. Joe Addabbo has hoped for — the second or third week of January, in time for the NFL playoffs.
“It looks like we’re still on track for January-start of the NFL playoffs, and that’s well ahead of the Super Bowl,” Addabbo told PlayNY last week. “And I’m sticking with that.”
Two industry sources Tuesday reinforced Addabbo’s mid-January optimism to PlayNY. “They are getting close,” one source with knowledge of the situation said.
At least one NY online sportsbook believed launch could be as soon as next week, a second source said.
Some around the industry — including Assemblyman Gary Pretlow — have suggested the end of January for launch. But perhaps it will be sooner, as Addabbo expects.
The NFL playoffs begin with the wild card round starting Jan. 15. The divisional round follows the weekend of Jan. 22-23, setting up conference championship on Jan. 30.
New York is under significant pressure to be ready in time for Super Bowl betting ahead of the big game’s Feb. 13 date. And the industry expectation is that all nine operators — FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Bally’s, Caesars, WynnBet, PointsBet, BetRivers and Resorts World — will be live by then.
Will all NY online sportsbooks launch on the same day?
Addabbo and Pretlow have both stated their desire to have a same-day launch for all operators, and the belief is the New York State Gaming Commission is on board with that request. But it’s possible that some operators may not be ready by then, Addabbo said.
“Yes, there will be a same-day launch, but not everybody will be able to launch that day. And that’s ok,” Addabbo told PlayNY last week.
“If somebody is slow to get ready, that’s unfortunate. But for those that are ready to go, a single start date would be more appropriate, and I think that’s what the gaming commission is looking to do.”
Before launch, NY online sportsbooks must install their servers on-location at any of the four upstate commercial casinos in New York (Rivers, Resorts World, del Lago and Tioga Downs). They then must pass through inspection by state regulators.
