By
Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 18 January 2021
Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief
Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.
Over the past year, more and more states across the country have come on board with mobile sports betting. For many of these states, the timing could not have been better, as it allowed sportsbooks and casinos to continue making money despite the closures and restrictions caused by the global pandemic.
In a recent address, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, proposed the legalization of mobile betting in the state. This came in his State of the State address, where he spoke about rebuilding the economy following the devastation caused by COVID-19, which continues to ravage countries around the world.
In 2019, Rivers launched its onsite sportsbook in Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, NY. However, the following year brought devastation after the global pandemic resulted in businesses, including casinos and retail sportsbooks, being closed. The closures were in place for several months, which meant that Rivers suffered huge losses, as there was no online alternative.
The manager of the Rivers sportsbook, Hal Wafer, said that the move to legalize mobile betting was an exciting prospect. While it would bring more sports betting operators to the state, he said that he did not view this as damaging competition but rather as a new opportunity that could really benefit Rivers sportsbook, as well as sports fans across the state. He also said:
Depending on how this develops in the State of New York, we already have a great partner in Rush Street Interactive, and we’re ready to hit the ground running on that note.
Wafer went on to say that RSI was already operating mobile sportsbooks in other states where it had already been legalized. This would make it easier for them to launch mobile sports betting in New York as soon as it is given the go-ahead.
The unprecedented situation last year came as a huge shock to the sports and casino industries, as they were not prepared. However, while the pandemic continues to wreak havoc, businesses and state officials across the country are now far more prepared as the second wave takes hold.
Launching mobile betting has become more vital than ever in the current environment, and this is a crucial time for sportsbook operators and casinos. As more and more states legalize mobile and online sports betting, the risk of financial devastation is reduced. It means that casinos – and state economies – can continue to bring in revenue, even if casinos are closed again.
In addition, this move is crucial for live sports and sports fans. In many states last year, fans were unable to place bets because casinos were closed and there was no other option within the state.
However, in places where mobile betting has been approved, fans have been able to place bets from the safety of their own home. This has benefited both the fans who are eager to place bets on their favorite sports and the world of live sports as a whole.
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