New York missed yesterday’s self-imposed deadline to open its mobile sports betting application process. Now, prospective licensees and bettors are wondering why.
The New York State Gaming Commission — the agency responsible for issuing the request for application (RFA) for New York mobile sports betting under the fiscal year 2022 state budget passed in April — has been quiet about the skipped deadline so far. Messages left with the agency by Gaming Today over the past 12 hours have gone unanswered.
Even Sen. Joe Addabbo is looking for answers. The Chair of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering was a key budget negotiator for mobile sports betting during the New York State Assembly’s 2021 legislative session.
“The fact that our state couldn’t meet its initial mobile sports betting deadline to take a positive step towards recognizing additional educational and anti-addiction funding is disappointing,” Addabbo said today in a statement. Addabbo’s press office in Howard Beach says that the Senator “is gathering more information on the situation.”
Missed Deadline: What Now?
No mention of a delay in the RFA process was made at the NYSGC’s meeting a few days ago on June 29.
There was also no mention of a delay on the NYSGC’s Mobile Sports Wagering Questions And Answers FAQ sheet, last updated on June 3. The NYSGC said then that it “will make all efforts to expedite the process but is unable to provide a specific timeline” when asked if the agency would release the RFA on July 1, or possibly earlier.
Once the RFA opens, companies interested in applying as a platform provider will have 30 days before the application window closes. Until yesterday, the application window was expected to close around Aug. 1. Now that date will be pushed back.
Platform licenses are still expected to be competitively bid by the NYSGC no later than 150 days after the final application is received.
Addabbo Still Optimistic About A Super Bowl Launch
Addabbo told Gaming Today earlier this week that he is optimistic that the state can go live with mobile sports betting before the 2022 Super Bowl. Today, the Senator says he’s still hopeful.
“I remain confident that in the end, New York will have a premier, top-shelf mobile sports betting product to offer its residents and effectively compete in the market,” he said.
