By Hank Russell
A new poll that was recently released showed that less than one in four New York residents say that sports betting is good for New York and nearly the same amount of people placed a bet on a sporting event this past year.
According to the Siena Research Institute, only 22% said sports betting is good for New York, while 39% disagreed. Attitudes towards sports betting also differed among bettors and non-bettors and by age group. The poll found that 49% of bettors surveyed supported sports betting, while 14% of non-bettors felt the same way. Of those under 50, twenty-seven percent said betting on sports was good for New York, while 16% of those 50 and over agreed.
The poll also found that 25% of New Yorkers bet on a sporting event within the past year. By gender, 37% of men and 14% of women admitted to wagering on a sporting event.
When asked how they placed their bets, 84% said it was with an online sportsbook, 54% placed a wager with friends and family, 41% said with a casino, 24% said with a bookie and 8% placed it by other means.
Online sportsbooks were more popular among men between the ages of 18 and 49 (92%), all male bettors (90%) and those under the age of 50 (87%), according to the poll results.
Despite the attitude towards online sports betting, the state has greatly benefited from it since it was legalized in New York in 2022. According to the state, it has collected over $1.3 billion in revenue last year. Additionally, Assemblymember Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake), chair of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, introduced legislation expanding the sports betting market by allowing more licenses and cutting the 51% tax rate on sports betting revenue. The bill is still in committee.
Another trend in the sports betting industry is the proliferation of advertising for online sportsbooks during live sporting events on TV and the radio and commentators announcing the latest money lines, neither of which is popular with those polled. Less than half (43%) of New Yorkers agree that online sportsbooks should not advertise during live sporting events on TV, while 44% disagreed. Additionally, only 25% thought having commentators offering remarks on sports gambling and possible bets was good for sports, while 52% said it wasn’t.
Meanwhile, in Albany, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Robert C. Carroll (D-Brooklyn) would restrict advertising by online sportsbooks in terms of when these commercials can air on TV. It is still with the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee.
“Today’s Siena Poll once again demonstrates that legal, regulated sports betting is now firmly established in New York, enjoyed by millions of adults across the state,” stated Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance. “It’s no surprise that the New Yorkers most familiar with these platforms are also the most supportive, considering that New York’s legal, regulated sportsbooks are equipped with strong consumer protections, do not accept wagers from those under the age of 21, devote millions of dollars to addressing problem gambling, and generate over a billion dollars, annually, for New York State’s public education fund.”
Maloney said his organization and fellow members can expect “continued growth” of sports wagering “in New York State and engaging with state policymakers and regulators to strengthen the legal, regulated betting market.”