New York Properties Tioga Downs and Rivers Casino Launch Their Sportsbooks

It’s the stuff of history for New York this week: two first-ever casino venues are set to open their sportsbooks and accept first legal wagers! On July 16th, Schenectady’s Rivers Casino will launch its own, while Nichols’ Tioga Downs will introduce their own sports betting a day after.

The New York Gaming Commission is yet to hand out licenses to both properties who have scheduled launch events this week. River Casino’s opening day will celebrate its new sports lounge with an LED video wall and 22 TV monitors, in addition to 16 betting kiosks and six staffed betting windows.

Pioneers of NY Sports Betting

Justin Moore, acting General Manager of Rivers Casino & Resort, was excited about the momentous event:

“We couldn’t be happier to start construction on our new sportsbook and we’re looking forward to opening one of the first licensed sportsbooks in the state of New York at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady. We think sports fans and sports bettors throughout the Capital Region and beyond will be thrilled with the new sportsbook and are looking forward to welcoming them into the casino to place legal wagers for the first time.”

Tioga Downs’ sportsbook, powered by FanDuel, will be soft-launched on July 17th while the ceremony of cutting a ribbon will take place on July 19th, with Donna Lupardo, New York State Assemblywoman the first in line to place the bet.

Quick Effects

In-person sports betting in land-based venues in New York was approved by city lawmakers in early June…

…with four casinos already getting permission to offer this type of gambling vertical. The question of mobile sports betting is still hanging in the balance as Senator Joseph Addabbo failed to the mobile bill through the Assembly…

Wagering on sports events was authorized by the New York State Gaming Commission, after the finalization of a procedure that began in January.

Oneidas Getting in on It

New York operators will be paying a 10% tax on sports betting revenue. Tribal gaming operator, Caesars Entertainment-powered sportsbook on August 1st at two of its venues, with a third one slated for a September launch.

The Caesars-powered lounge will be opened at Turning Stone Resort in Verona and Point Place Casino in Bridgeport. The one to be launched in September is the sportsbook at Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango just in time for the start of NFL season.

Turning Stone Resort Casino is the oldest of the three. It was opened in 1993. Its 100,000 square foot game floor is still the largest. Yellow Brick Road was opened in 2015, followed by Point Place in 2018.

What About In-Stadium Wagering?

The fate of in-stadium wagering in New York is still uned for…

…although it has been one of the points in Addabbo’s bill which outlined the ways in which casinos can partner up with stadiums and sports venues in order to help them launch sports betting on their premises.

Source:

“NY casinos prepare for sports betting launch”, igbnorthamerica.com, July 15, 2019.