SHANTEL DESTRA, HOST: It only took 30 days for New York to become the biggest sports betting state in the country, since it was legalized in January. Now, lawmakers are considering putting sports betting right in the stadium. Mark Gilchrist reports.
MARK GILCHRIST, BYLINE: That means betters could soon see betting lounges or kiosks in places like Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, and the Buffalo Bills Stadium.
The Mets have already announced a partnership with Caesars to place a betting lounge in Citi Field — it’s a bet the bill will pass.
Caesars is one of nine companies licensed to offer mobile sports betting in New York.
If the kiosk bill passes, stadiums would have to partner with one of these companies to build physical gambling spaces.
Ester Fuchs is a professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Columbia University.
She says the early success of online sports betting made lawmakers and stadium owners want to chase even more money and profit.
ESTER FUCHS: I think once the state started allowing betting, for sports and other kinds of events, that it was only a matter of time before the sporting arenas themselves wanted to get part of the action here.
GILCHRIST: At a Rangers game this week, some fans said they would like to have a physical space to gamble. This is Vinny Randazzo:
VINNY RANDAZZO: I might try it if there was a kiosk. I just don’t want to have it on my phone because I don’t want to be able to do it on the toilet, you know?
GILCHRIST: The New York Senate’s Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee approved the bill in February. It now sits in the Finance Committee.
Mark Gilchrist, Columbia Radio News