Sen. Joe Addabbo has reintroduced a Senate bill that would allow online sportsbooks in New York to accept wagers on fixed-odds horse racing as well as install self-service betting kiosks at sports stadiums and arenas.
The proposal comes a year after Addabbo introduced a similar bill in 2022 that never gained traction and died in committee.
Now, though, with the Empire State more accepting of legal gambling expansion than in previous years, Addabbo will take another run at making NY sports betting more expansive than ever.
Details of NY sports betting expansion bill
As detailed in S 2343, if passed, online sportsbooks in New York can enter into an agreement with an entity that holds a license to offer fixed-odds horse betting in New York. Once done, those NY betting apps can integrate such markets within their offerings.
In addition, NY sportsbooks can enter into an “affiliate agreement,” which sets up those operators to install self-service kiosks at one of the following locations:
Off-track betting facilities
Professional sports stadiums or arenas
Automobile racing facilities that host NASCAR races
Thoroughbred racing corporation or other licensed racetrack
Operator of video lottery gaming at Aqueduct
According to the bill, the state cannot approve an agreement between a sports betting operator and a pro stadium or arena until six months after this bill goes into effect.
Addabbo: Self-service kiosk “enhances” fan experience
While other jurisdictions have seen the opening of kiosks and even full-blow retail sportsbooks at professional sports facilities, New York has sat by and enjoy the boom of online sports betting.
However, Addabbo refuses to remain content. The story of legal sports betting in New York, the senator told PlayNY recently, is one that doesn’t yet have an ending.
“This is such a competitive market that we’re going to have to stand at the ready and think about how we improve the product for the people of New York. Because in a millisecond … they’ll go back to what they were possibly doing for two or three years — going to Jersey, doing it illegally, whatever it is — but … the idea is how do we evolve mobile sports betting in New York and make it even better in New York so it has the sustainability of being No. 1 in the nation going forward.”
As noted, a similar effort to expand NY sports betting markets to include fixed-odds horse betting happened a year ago. And while he fell short of his goal in 2022, Addabbo continues to push the issue in an attempt to further improve the industry.
“I think it enhances a fan’s experience at a racetrack, arena or stadium,” Addabbo told PlayNY last year regarding sports betting kiosks. “I think there’s a segment of the population — albeit at small one — that doesn’t like to use the phone. … I think there’s a place for it.”
