Four mobile sports betting operators were approved by the state Gaming Commission to begin accepting wagers as from Saturday, 8th January 2022.
According to the commission, the four licensees, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel and Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers) ‘have satisfied all statutory and regulatory requirements necessary to accept and process mobile sports wagering activity.’ The platforms began operating at 9 a.m. on Saturday 8th January.
Operators could decide when to begin accepting wagers and according to BetRivers, DraftKings and FanDuel, they intended opening their mobile sportsbooks to New Yorkers on Saturday.
Nine mobile sports betting operators were awarded licenses by the commission in November 2021. Together with the four operators that have already been cleared to accept wagers, the remaining five – Bally Bet, BetMGM, PointsBet, Resorts World and Wynn Interactive – “continue to work towards satisfying statutory and regulatory requirements necessary to launch and will be approved on a rolling basis when requirements are met” according to the commission.
New York has joined at least 16 other states that allow mobile sports betting as the state only allowed sports wagers to be placed at four commercial casinos until now. These include del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County. Sports bets were also accepted by Tribal casinos operating in the state.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, who sponsored the mobile sports betting legislation in New York, said that the revenue from mobile sports betting will be another funding source for education, youth sports and addiction programs.
Addabbo also thanked the Gaming Commission for their efficiency in ensuring that these operators met all of the requirements to bring their mobile sports betting product to the people of New York ahead of the NFL playoffs.
