Mobile New York sports betting is off to a roaring start and today’s news just adds to the momentum.
BetMGM New York has been been granted permission to start operations by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), the company announced Friday morning BetMGM begins operations Monday, Jan. 17.
Follow NewYorkBets.com for the latest New York sports betting promo codes. BetMGM has offered first-time customers in other states a risk-free bet of up to $1,000.
“With today’s monumental news, we’ll now be able to fully activate our relationships with MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino and Madison Square Garden. We look forward to offering customers in New York unique experiences that they can’t access on any other platform,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblat said in a news release. “A huge thank you to the New York Gaming Commission as well as to our entire BetMGM team who have worked tirelessly to bring this to fruition.”
As of Monday, the BetMGM app will be available for download in New York on both iOS and Android and accessible via desktop on the company’s website, the news release said.
BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM’s U.S. land-based and online sports betting and online gaming businesses. The company is a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Entain.
Four Sportsbooks Go Live
On Jan. 6, the NYSGC issued a sudden announcement, that four of the approved nine operators, Caesars Sportsbook NY, DraftKings NY, FanDuel NY and BetRivers NY, could launch mobile betting in the state two days later.
That’s when the national records started to fall. There were roughly 5.8 million geolocation transactions in New York in the first 12 hours (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday). That more than doubled the previous high state, Pennsylvania (2.4 million). Those numbers come from GeoComply, a company that tracks such metrics in the gambling industry. Lindsay Slader, the managing director for gaming at GeoComply, noted on her social media that the sports betting volume for the weekend was 17.2 million, including 8 million from New York City’s five boroughs.
Addabbo a Catalyst for NY Sports Betting
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. has been a major driving force in pushing New York into mobile sports betting.
“It really is unbelievable the start we have had, but the key is we need to sustain the business going forward,” Addabbo said in an interview with NewYorkBets.com. “People have been waiting for this for a long time and the fact that we broke records with just four of the nine sportsbooks launching is incredible.
“I love the fact that in 2½ years of retail sportsbook wagering in the state, we created $3.7 million dollars in tax revenue. We did that number over two days of launching mobile sports betting last Saturday and Sunday.”
Addabbo knows more revenue can be expected with BetMGM joining the fray.
“The potential is there and we are primed to do really well,” he said. “We have the potential for thousands of jobs, money into our youth programs and money for our addiction programs. This will benefit every New Yorker, even if you don’t bet. I’m extremely optimistic and enthusiastic about the upcoming NFL Playoffs, the Super Bowl and where we are headed.
“Sustainability is what I’m looking for over time to really make sure New York is a major and competitive player in this market. The key is that the consumer stays with us and not stray to other states or illegal sportsbooks. Keep it in the state.”
