Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara is calling for the passage of assembly bill (A.11144) before the end of this legislative session. The legislation would allow sports bettors to sign up for a mobile sports betting account at a casino or online. Santabarbara is a sponsor of the measure that comes on the heels of a United States Supreme Court decision last month striking down the federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to decide for themselves to allow it.

“This legislation will allow the State of New York an opportunity to make sports betting open, transparent and responsible,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who is a member of the New York State Assembly’s Racing & Wagering Committee. “Over the years the law has not stopped sports betting, instead it has created a 150 billion dollar industry that operates online, underground and offshore,” Santabarbara said. “This bill brings sports betting out of the shadows and at a benefit to the taxpayers. It levels the playing field so we can create a responsible market for sports betting in a safe regulated manner,” Santabarbara added.

According to a fiscal study done on this legislation, between $10 million and $30 million would be generated annually to New York State.

“Upstate New York is home to four gaming resorts, including Rivers Casino here in Schenectady, that would benefit immensely from legalized sports betting, giving our region another boost,” Santabarbara said. “The additional revenue to the state makes it a win-win.”