A recent survey shows that 61% of New Yorkers support legalizing mobile NY sports betting in the Empire State.
Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. said he used the poll results in arguing for the state to include mobile sports wagering in the budget for the next fiscal year.
“These numbers from this recent survey reaffirm what we we have known for a while, that our New York residents want a legal, safe and accessible way to do mobile sports betting in New York,” Addabbo told Legal Sports Report.
“That’s why I believe given the fact that the sports betting industry is growing rapidly, along with our current budget’s need for revenue and educational funding, the time is now to incorporate mobile sports betting into this year’s New York State’s budget.”
The New York Senate and Assembly budget proposals are expected to come out March 18 in advance of the state budget being finalized on April 1.
More on poll results for NY sports betting
The statewide telephone poll of 800 New York voters was conducted in February by the public opinion research firm Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, in collaboration with the Parkside Group.
The survey was commissioned by DraftKings and FanDuel, which operate the two most successful online sportsbooks in neighboring New Jersey.
Among those surveyed, 23% said they preferred the current system where New Yorkers can only place a legal sports bet in the state by going to upstate casinos. That forces many to go across the border to place legal wagers through NJ sports betting apps.
Breaking down the strongest supporters of online wagers:
- 82% of men younger than 50.
- 78% of people who have previously bet on sports.
- 77% of Long Island residents.
- 72% of Democrats younger than 50.
- 71% of Latinos.
- 67% of college-educated white voters.
- 66% of women of color.
The survey also showed that 44% of New York voters prefer that the legislature change the law to allow for mobile NY sports betting, while 30% want a constitutional amendment. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has posited that mobile sports betting in New York requires a constitutional amendment.
Legal daily fantasy sports also favored
Last month, the New York Supreme Court upheld a decision that a 2016 law legalizing daily fantasy sports in the state was unconstitutional as a gambling expansion that did not go in front of voters.
The poll indicated that 62% of voters disagree with that decision to strike down the 2016 fantasy sports law compared to 24% who agree.
Additionally, 68% of New Yorkers believe that the legislature should remove criminal penalties for people who play fantasy sports and companies who operate fantasy sports contests, compared to 21% who do not.
