ALBANY – There is currently a federal ban on sports betting with the exception of a few states that were grandfathered in.
State Senator John Bonacic (R, Mt. Hope), chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, said if the US Supreme Court, which is weighing the current federal prohibition, does toss it, the four casinos in New York would be allowed to conduct sports betting.
“I know the millennials want this,” Bonacic said. “There is so much illegal sports betting going on now in New York and it is an industry we can regulate, we can tax and make more money for education and I think it will be well received. It is very popular to bet on football games, or baseball, basketball, soccer, you name it. They are into it. It would also include college games that you could bet on.”
Allowing the four casinos, including the new Casino World Catskills facility
to conduct sports betting subject to the lifting of the federal ban is
written in the 2013 legislation.
