You want to hear from a real New York state guy?
Let’s see what a key exec from DraftKings has to say as he reflects on today, the first day of mobile New York sports betting.
Johnny Avello is the director of race and sportsbook operations at DraftKings. He grew up in Poughkeepsie, only 85 miles from New York City.
“Growing up in New York and having spent the last 30-plus years in Las Vegas, I am thrilled that my worlds are finally set to collide,” he said. “Millions of New Yorkers will soon discover what we believe makes our DraftKings Sportsbook the very best in customer service and real-money gaming and entertainment.”
Avello would seem to have the ammo to back up his claims.
DraftKings a True Heavyweight
DraftKings, which was launched in 2012 in Boston, is one of the largest and most well-known sportsbooks in the United States. It enters its largest mobile market to date. At DraftKings New York, new bettors are eligible for a 20% welcome match deposit bonus worth up to $1,000.
DraftKings already has made an offer for customers who signed up before today. Stay close to NewYorkBets.com for more offers from DraftKings and the other New York sports betting app operators.
NewYorkBets.com also has a sports betting Odds and Lines guide. Check it out for great information on mobile sports wagering and apps in the Empire State.
DraftKings was one of four operators the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) determined to be ready for online operations by 9 a.m. Saturday.
The others are Rush Street Interactive (parent company of BetRivers), FanDuel and Caesars.
The Reach of DraftKings
DraftKings already had live mobile and/or retail betting operations in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. Now add New York. No state with mobile sports betting has a higher population than New York, at 19.4 million.
DraftKings also is one of four sports betting companies that operates a retail sportsbook in upstate New York. Theirs is at Del Lago Casino & Resort in Waterloo, which is between Syracuse and Rochester.
Before today, New York only has retail sports betting out of the four upstate casinos. In addition to Del Lago, those casinos are: Resorts World Casino in Monticello, Rivers Casino in Schenectady and Tioga Downs in Nichols.
That changes today.
