New York Legislation Could Allow Sports Betting In Local Stadiums

Sports Betting

A sponsor of sports betting legislation in New York said the bill likely would allow for in-person wagering at places like Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden.

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow said Friday the legislation he announced this week is being tweaked and will have that provision unless he receives strong opposition.

“That is one of the changes, that we would open it up to have affiliates such as Madison Square Garden, which has expressed an interest in doing this,” the Westchester County Democrat told a panel at Cardozo Law School. “I think it’s a great idea.”

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, also a Democrat, took a more cautious tone.

“To do it right, I think we need to do it in a very methodical manner,” Addabbo said. “I see sports betting being rolled out over a couple of years, to make sure we do it both legally and respecting the integrity of the sport, which is very important, and protecting the consumer. And then I would suggest we do roll it out to the stadiums and other venues at some point.”

The Supreme Court struck down a federal sports gambling ban last year. Since then, no stadiums or arenas in the eight states that have offered sports gambling have on-site betting operations. New Jersey, for example, restricts in-person gambling to casinos and racetracks.

Washington, D.C. approved gambling at stadiums and arenas in December, but it has yet to be implemented.

One feature New Jersey offers that is proving a thorny issue in New York is mobile sports gambling. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state officials have contended the state constitution would have to be amended for mobile wagering to be legal. But on Friday Pretlow said he has been led to believe that the governor has revised his view.

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