NY Becomes Top Sports Betting Market Just Hours After Launch

After months of anticipation, New York finally successfully launched the first batch of their state-regulated mobile sportsbooks on Saturday.
New York recorded nearly as many sports betting transactions in the first 12 hours after launch as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan did in that time combined.

ALBANY, N.Y. – The long-anticipated launch of New York’s mobile sportsbooks finally came to fruition on Saturday, and according to Canadian geolocation technology firm GeoComply, mobile sports wagering is now taking place in the Empire State at historic levels.

New York’s Mobile Sportsbooks Launch With Historic Success

GeoComply uses their geolocation technology to provide compliance services to nearly all of the United States’ existing online sports betting markets. According to the geolocation company, New York’s mobile launch on Saturday was unprecedented.

During the first 12 hours after launch, New York recorded 5.8 million transactions – nearly equivalent to the 6 million combined transactions Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan (the three largest sports betting markets in the U.S., excluding New York) saw during that same time period. In the first 36 hours after launch, New York’s online sports betting transaction volume topped 17 million.

“In just 12 hours, New York has become the top state for sports betting in the U.S.,” said Lindsey Slater, GeoComply’s director on gaming. “A launch this size is historically unprecedented, with volumes eclipsing the closest-ranked state, Pennsylvania, by approximately 2.5 times.”

How N.Y.’s Mobile Launch Will Change The Legal Sports Betting Industry

Many in the legal sports betting world have had their attention fixed on New York over the last few months, as the state boasts the fourth-largest population and the largest sports market in the U.S.; moreover, neighboring New Jersey saw record-breaking mobile sports betting handles and revenues during 2021.

Experts estimate that approximately 25% of New Jersey’s sports betting handle comes from New York residents who cross state lines to place their wagers. With New York now hosting their own mobile legal sports betting industry, sports betting in New Jersey may take a large financial hit.

Four mobile sportsbooks successfully launched mobile sports betting in New York on Saturday after the New York State Gaming Commission approved them for launch earlier in the week. These operators include Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive; however, Caesars encountered some difficulties with the launch – as a result, Caesars sportsbook was temporarily unavailable for approximately three hours on Saturday evening.

Five other sportsbooks received conditional licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission: BallyBet, BetMGM, PointsBet, Resorts World, and WynnBet. These remaining operators “continue to work towards satisfying statutory and regulatory requirements necessary to launch and will be approved on a rolling basis when requirements are met,” read the statement from the Gaming Commission.

Once those sportsbooks launch, sports bettors of New York will be treated to a feeding frenzy, as each sportsbook tries to attract customers with lucrative bonuses and odds boosts. Expect New York to see solid mobile sports betting growth over the next few months as customers’ awareness of the sportsbooks and the sportsbooks’ capabilities grow.

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Jerad Paparella

Jerad has been a welcomed addition to the LegalSportsBetting.com writing team. Covering topics regarding the expansion of sports betting in the US, Jerad focuses on legislative efforts, bill signings and other methods for sports betting legalization. Finishing his education as a college baseball player, Jerad has first-hand knowledge of competitive sports, paired with years of personal sports betting as well. As a political science major at the University of Central Florida, Jerad covers the political, legal, and legislative aspects of sports gambling without any issues.