FanDuel, New Jersey’s sportsbook market leader, will launch New York’s second sports betting lounge this coming Friday, July 19.
The launch will come just three days after Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady took New York’s first bets Tuesday.
The two openings came just five weeks after the New York Gaming Commission (NYGC) formally adopted sports betting regulations.
FanDuel’s sportsbook will officially be opened by Assembly member Donna Lupardo at Tioga Downs Casino Resort in upstate New York.
She’ll make the first ceremonial wager at FanDuel’s new 2,600 square foot betting lounge located near the Casino’s main entrance.
Then, in NY’s first week since sportsbooks were unbanned a year ago, its residents will be free to bet.
The FanDuel lounge at Tioga Downs Casino will include:
- Seating for over 50 customers
- Eight betting windows
- A large video wall display with 27 screens
- 14 self-service betting kiosks.
FanDuel will apply New Jersey expertise in New York
The wagering expertise built up by FanDuel in NJ will be put to good effect in NY.
It’ll offer the same numerous betting markets in the same number of sports at the same odds as in NJ.
As is the case in NJ, it will not be legally possible in NY to place bets on the state’s collegiate sport or sports teams. The same will apply to punters under the age of 21.
What will differ greatly between the two neighboring states is that New York does not yet allow online betting.
Mobile wagering has been the central core of New Jersey’s overwhelming success so far. More than 80% of its annual handle ($3.2 billion) came in online, mostly via smartphones.
Ironically a large share of its online business has been coming from thousands of New Yorkers. To comply with the Wire Act, they weekly make the short journey across the Hudson River. Once in NJ territory, they place their bets on mobile apps and then head home.
And you can be sure of one thing. With Tioga Downs and NY’s three other licensed Casino’s all a few hour’s drive from the City, the practice will continue.
Governor Cuomo holding back online sports betting
This at least for as long as NY Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to disagree with some notable lawmakers. His office claims sports betting cannot be introduced in NY without a constitutional amendment.
The lawyers disagree and so multitudes of Dollars in revenue continue being lost to the Garden State. Also, multitudes of punters continue to be frustrated.
In the meantime, FanDuel, also a US giant of daily sports fantasy gaming, has established an early presence in New York. It should be quicker off the mark than most when mobile sports-betting does finally get the nod.
It is also bringing in-person sports betting to a number of cities and towns in the area, notably Ithaca and Binghamton.
Along with its move east into New York, FanDuel has also spread west. With its partner, Valley Forge Casino, it is on verge of opening what could be Pennsylvania’s first online sportsbook. Watch this space.
