As part of an ongoing effort to legalize sports betting in New York State this year which would include the ability to place wagers from mobile devices NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. and Assembly member J. Gary Pretlow have amended their legislation to address concerns expressed about the initial proposal.

“I continue to believe that legalizing sports betting, and enabling people to place wagers from their phones and other devices, has tremendous potential to create jobs and raise significant funding for education and other vital public programs. This amended bill expands on where and how an individual can place a sports wager,’ said Addabbo. “Together with Assemblymember Pretlow, I intend to work with all interested parties in bringing legal sports betting to New York. We can’t just sit back and watch New York’s illegal sports betting business flourish while money flows out of our state and into New Jersey.”

“Billions of New Yorker’s dollars are being wagered on sports in the black-market. By enabling the mobile sports wagering component, we will be able to capture a majority of this illicit practice while further protecting our consumers, said Assemblyman Pretlow. “Senator Addabbo, our staff, and I have been working continuously to craft legislation that is considerate of all major stakeholders.”

The amendments enable OTBs and New York Racing Association (NYRA) facilities to begin mobile sports betting via kiosk at the same time as the four upstate casinos already authorized to offer legal wagering. VLTs, Racinos, and arenas would be phased in afterwards. In addition, the amendments strengthen protections to address problem gambling, particularly among individuals under the age of 30.