The eighth online sportsbook in New York has now gone live.
Resorts World New York announced Thursday that its mobile sports betting app, Resorts WorldBET, had taken its first wager in the state.
Malaysia’s Genting Group operates Resorts World and says it tapped online bookmaker PointsBet as the platform provider for Resorts WorldBET, which is now available for download. According to a press release, new users can receive a risk-free bet of up to $500.
"This is something our players and sports enthusiasts have wanted for a long time, and we're excited to say Resorts World New York now has mobile sports betting," said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, in the release. "From our experience in having a sportsbook in both our Catskills and Las Vegas properties, we were able to take feedback from our players and deliver what New Yorkers really want in a mobile sports betting app.”
A big bite of the Big Apple
Resorts World’s pre-March Madness launch now means there are eight online sportsbook operators doing business in New York. The state only legally allowed mobile wagering to begin back in January.
The eight digital bookmakers currently taking wagers in New York are BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, Resorts World, and WynnBET. The only operator that was approved by regulators but has yet to launch is Bally Bet, which is eyeing a debut at some point in the first half of 2022.
New York’s online sports betting market has already become the biggest in the United States in terms of monthly handle. More than $1.6 billion in mobile wagers were taken in January and over $2.8 billion as of February 20.
The huge opportunity has come with huge costs for operators as well, with sportsbooks offering big sign-up offers and racking up sizable advertising expenses in the name of acquiring customers. New York has a 51% tax rate on mobile sports betting revenue, too.
The Resorts World New York City casino and hotel in Queens has spent almost $1 million to install digital displays that show sporting events, Thursday's release said. Genting’s other New York state casino, Resorts World Catskills, also has a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
"For us, it's all about providing a complete world class gaming experience and delivering the latest technology to our guests and loyal customers," said Darlene Monzo, chief marketing officer for Genting Americas East, in the release. "Our players trust us, and we're excited to provide a safe way for them to place their favorite sports bets through the Resorts WorldBET app, which they can do from the comfort of their couch, or in the big screen environment of Bar 360 in Queens, or Sportsbook 360 at Resorts World Catskills."
