A whole new world opens Saturday for New York sports betting.
That became abundantly clear Thursday with an announcement by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) that FanDuel NY, DraftKings NY, Rush Street International (parent company of BetRivers) and Caesars sportsbook had passed the regulatory barriers and could begin mobile sports betting as soon as 9 a.m. Saturday.
FanDuel, which is based in New York, said it is prepared for Saturday. Customers can join the celebration of mobile wagering making its debut in New York with $100 in FanDuel sportsbook site credit when they activate their FanDuel sportsbook account.
The offer is for new users in New York only and runs until 8:59 a.m. Saturday.
In an official statement, FanDuel said: “We are delighted the FanDuel Sportsbook has received approval from the New York State Gaming Commission to be live on Saturday bringing the excitement of America’s No. 1 Sportsbook to the passionate fans of New York.”
Our NewYorkBets.com sports betting Odds and Lines guide is a handy resource as you consider mobile betting in the state.
FanDuel Has Large Footprint
With a recent announcement of its presence at Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover, Maryland, FanDuel now has live retail sportsbooks in 11 states.
FanDuel is one of four sports betting companies to already operate a retail sportsbook in upstate New York, at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols. Both Tioga Downs and The Meadowlands in New Jersey are owned and operated by Jeff Gural.
FanDuel Partners with Bills
FanDuel also announced Thursday it had entered a multi-year partnership as the official mobile sports betting partner of the Buffalo Bills.
FanDuel will gain access to a range of media assets, including TV and radio spots and in-game signage and activations at Highmark Stadium. They also will be allowed to use Bills logos. FanDuel also will be the presenting sponsor of Bills by the Numbers, a podcast hosted by Steve Tasker and Chris Brown.
“The Bills take pride in being a culture that is built on genuine connection with their fans, and we are absurdly fan-focused at FanDuel, making this a natural collaboration,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group. “As we prepare to bring America’s No. 1 sportsbook to New York state, we will collaborate with the Bills to bring unique content and experiences to one of the most loyal fanbases in sports.”
“FanDuel has built a strong reputation as a premier sports betting destination for sports fans,” said Dan Misko, the senior vice president of business development for Pegula Sports & Entertainment. “The ways they reach people through engaging and entertaining content is innovative and aligns with how we think about connecting with our fans. We’re very excited for all this partnership will offer our valued fans throughout the state of New York as part of their gameday experience and look forward to working with FanDuel for many years to come.”
Why New York Sports Betting Is So Important
There has been much conjecture about the vast potential of New York in the national scope of mobile sports betting.
Even though New York is only the fourth-largest state with a population of 19.3 million, remember that No. 1 California (39.6 million) and No. 2 Texas (29.7 million) do not have sports betting and might not for several years at least.
Florida, which ranks third in total population at 21.9 million, does not have sports betting at the moment. Previously, before legal challenges, there was one sportsbook run by the Seminole Tribe (Hard Rock Sportsbook).
Campaign to Be Responsible When Betting
A national organization in December aimed to get out ahead of mobile betting by announcing a plan to promote responsible wagering.
The American Gaming Association has a partnership with Madison Square Garden on its campaign called “Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™
The aim of the program is to promote what the AGA considers the four principles of responsible sports betting: Set a budget and stick to it, know the odds, keep betting social and play with trusted, regulated operators.
MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment will activate the campaign in the arena and in digital media with the New York Rangers (NHL) and New York Knicks (NBA).
