Mobile sports betting becoming legal in New York anytime

The revamped bill being pushed by Pretlow and Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) would enable tribal and business casinos to provide sports betting statewide should they pony up to get a license fee of $12 million. Additionally, it requires casinos to pay a state tax of 8.5% of gross sports wagering earnings and a 12% tax on cellular sports wagers.

With the end on the legislative session rapidly approaching and a plethora of different problems being prioritized over online wagering, a recently tweaked invoice allowing four private casinos and people run by Native American tribes to get in on the action is stuck in the starting gate.

Current state law only allows in-person sports betting at the upstate casinos, but regulations governing the websites are still pending. “We’re attempting to do our very best to get this moving,” Pretlow said, adding that he’d love to see Gov. Cuomo come out in favor of this idea. “We are running out of time and the governor has not said ‘I want to get it done,’ and I believe that’s the signal people are waiting for.” The governor, who has stood with his stance that an amendment to state constitution is needed to permit remote wagering via mobile devices, offered gamblers that a glimmer of hope last week. Proponents of the measure have noted that approximately 80% percentage of the sports wagering earnings in New Jersey comes from cellular betting.

“It is possible,” Cuomo told WAMC’s Alan Chartock, before noting that there are different steps that take precedence right now, such as leasing reforms and sexual harassment legislation. “I feel the time is brief and the list is long, so I would advise the leaders to acquire the priorities done, because these priorities aren’t easy.”

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) said the country is losing out on tax revenue since New Yorkers either turn into illegal online betting platforms or traveling into neighboring New Jersey to place wagers.

New Yorkers hoping to put a bet on pro and college sports in their own smartphones are probably out of luck as lawmakers aren’t ready to pass a bill legalizing mobile sports betting until the legislative session ends later this month, multiple resources in the state capital confirmed to the Daily News.

“I just don’t see a route forward with the period of time left.”