Upstate New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow was one of the first bettors to legally wager on a sporting event in New York State when the Rivers Casino and Resort opened their sportsbook today.
The sports lounge is decked out with several large screen TV's, 14 gambling kiosks, dozens of comfortable armchairs, and six betting windows.
The New York State Gaming Commission approved sports betting last month allowing New York State to join the 13 other states to legalize wagering on sporting events.
According to an article published in the New York Daily News, Assemblyman Pretlow said, "This is a big first step for New York. It's a good first step and it's going to show that sports betting is viable."
Gambling on New York-based collegiate teams or college events taking place in New York will be prohibited.
Democratic State Senator Joe Addabbo said of the new sportsbook, "We have to view this as a building block toward getting the conversation about mobile betting started in earnest again."
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