New York punters will have to continue crossing the Hudson River to make online sports wagers in New Jersey. Otherwise, they will have to do it with illegal offshore sportsbooks.
A bill making online sports betting legal remained stalled in the state Assembly when the year’s legislative session ended Wednesday.
This was largely due to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his side-kick, the State Assembly Speaker, Carl Heastie.
They continue insisting that the state’s voters approve a constitutional amendment before online sports wagering can be legalized.
And this despite a pertinent note made recently by sports law attorney Daniel Wallach. He pointed out that when New York allowed online mobile betting on horse racing a decade ago, no referendum was required.
Casino sports betting coming in summer – 100 miles from City
Come summer, residents of the Big Apple can make in-person sports bets at three up-state Casinos. The bill making that possible was passed last week. But they will need to travel for some 100 miles to do it. It’s far easier for residents to make the six-mile trip into New Jersey and bet on their smartphones.
There was a strong reaction to the failure of the online betting bill from Senator Joseph Addabbo, a driving force behind it.
He tweeted: “NY will be stuck like a disabled car on the shoulder. This while we allow illegal sports betting in our state to thrive and idly watch other neighboring states pass us by. They’re making enormous revenue gains from mobile sports betting.”
The Buffalo News also carried a response from Addabbo. It read: “With online sports betting legalization dead in NY Assembly, @SenJoeAddabbo, bill sponsor in Senate, laments lost revenues & econ develop & bets lost to the illegal market and places like New Jersey. “I am disappointed. It was within our grasp.”
