New York Stops Short of Fully Adopting Rhode Island's Sports Betting Model: Results 1 Year Later

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo finally caved in permitting mobile sports betting after initially being dead set against it.  He would go on to announce his resignation following a report of sexual assault allegations and subsequent investigation.

His solution at the time was to adopt a sports betting model that mimicked that of Rhode Island. 

In addition to massive accounting errors reported during the first year, Rhode Island sportsbooks were open in only two locations within the country's smallest state yet both were difficult to reach from most of New England's major population centers with the exception of Providence. 

A 51 percent tax was imposed on the books, the highest rate in the country at the time.  New York would go on to copy that number.

Oh and guess what?  The popular parlay bet is prohibited in Rhode Island.

New York didn't incorporate everything Rhode Island did - they allow parlays - but the Empire State sports betting model is still flawed.

New York now offers mobile betting.  Its initial foray into sports betting centered on a handful of casinos mostly outside of heavily populated metropolitan areas (Buffalo had better access).

No online casino games for real money.  You can still play on free social media sites. 

Betting on in-state colleges and games that feature them is strictly prohibited with the regulated gambling sites.

Here's What the Cuomo Administration had Originally Contemplated

• Cuomo’s budget director had earlier expressed concerns that adding mobile wagering would require a constitutional amendment to allow for NY sports betting outside the casinos.
• Cuomo seemed to echo that sentiment back in 2019 when the state prepared to offer sports betting only at designated casinos, most of which were far from major population centers.
• The New York State Governor did an about face in early January, citing the success of neighboring New Jersey, which has now surpassed Nevada in terms of overall sports handle.
• The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have helped as Cuomo said, with legalizing of mobile sports wagering, the state would be able to “keep millions of dollars in tax revenue here at home, which will only strengthen our ability to rebuild” from the coronavirus crisis.
• The Governor appears to have taken a liking to the so-called "Rhode Island model". 
• While hinting that casinos could oversee sports wagering in the state, Cuomo appeared to be leaning more towards the state Lottery doing so.
• “The second alternative is to have the people of the state of New York actually get the profits from mobile sports betting. And run it the way we run the state lottery which is it’s state-run and the state gets all the revenue. I’m with the people and I believe the people of the state should get the revenues. This is not a moneymaker for private interests to collect just more tax revenue. We want the actual revenue.”
• “It’s intentionally sketchy,” attorney Bennett Leibman explained of Gov. Cuomo’s plan for online sports betting in New York. “But mobile betting is going to go to one or more casino approved skins, after a competitive bidding process. It’s modeled like New Hampshire — high tax monopoly, or oligopoly. No added retail shops or betting in sports venues.”
• Danny Small of Elite Sports NY: "The monopoly with high taxes means that players won’t have the option to choose the best sportsbook for their needs and the sportsbooks themselves won’t feel inclined to offer bonuses or promos to the player base."
• Small adds: "It’s quite clear that online sports betting has a future in the Empire State, but will it look like a cheap imitation of Rhode Island’s current system or a forward-thinking plan that addresses the unique circumstances of New York?"

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com