How the New Sports Betting Decision Impacts Hudson Valley Casinos

The Supreme Court ruling makes waves at local resorts.

 

Sports fans, listen up. A major change in the world of athletics is rippling from Washington D.C. straight to New York.

On May 14, the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA), which prohibited gambling on competitive sporting events. Prior to this decision, legalized betting was permitted only in Nevada, which was granted a special exception from the original 1992 law. With the new ruling, any state can get in on the gambling action, as long as their legislators agree to it.

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In New York, the dos and don’ts of gambling locally need to be determined by the New York State Gaming Commission. Once the commission establishes regulations for casinos to follow, the resorts and entertainment venues across the state can begin to welcome the general public to wager on their favorite teams.

So what does that mean for the Hudson Valley? In Monticello, Resorts World Catskills sees the revision to the national law as a win for New Yorkers.

“We are prepared to implement sports betting as part of the gaming experience at our resort casino, Resorts World Catskills, upon the formulation of relevant regulations in New York State,” declares Ryan Eller, president and CEO of Resorts World. “We believe the ruling has the potential to transform how Americans bet on sports and we are one of the few New York State venues that can be authorized to host a sports pool under New York’s Gaming Act. It is our hope that New York State will be ready for New Yorkers to place legal sports bets in time for the fall football season, baseball’s World Series, or even sooner.”

Further down in the valley, Empire City Casino in Yonkers also sees the bright side to the new ruling.

“The Supreme Court decision on legalizing sports betting will be a positive for the gaming industry long term, bringing billions of dollars in illegal sports betting into the sunlight,” says Taryn Duffy, director of public relations at the Yonkers casino. “The impact on New York gaming entities will ultimately be determined by state legislature.”

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While local casinos look forward to the impending opportunities that the overturn of PAPSA provides, opponents to the ruling worry that sports betting will detract from the value of the sports themselves. Others see it as an inevitability that will have minimal impact on the sports themselves.

“It was going to happen sooner or later because the money that can be split in the pie is astronomical,” notes Rick Zolzer, vice president of the Hudson Valley Renegades. “I honestly don’t think it will have an impact on what takes place on the field, court, or ice. Eventually the technology will allow betting on every play, including on multiple outcomes on that play.”

As New York officials decide how to proceed, only time will tell how the decision affects the valley – and the nation.

What do you think of the Supreme Court decision? Let us know in the comments or by email at edit@hvmag.com.


Related: Resorts World Catskills Celebrates Luxury Expansion Opening

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