Making history twice

New York has marked its name in the history books twice through the launch of its online sports betting market. On Saturday, New York became the US’s most populous state to offer mobile betting and the first to roll it out in 2022, as citizens placed their first wagers.

The bets started rolling in just one minute after four platforms — BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel — went live at 9.00 am Saturday morning.

DraftKings took to Twitter on launch day with news of a bettor placing a football parlay wager at 9:01 am:

Caesars Sportsbook also revealed its first wager – a risky parlay, with a bettor laying down $20 to win $233.16 on five European soccer games. BetRivers’ maiden wager was a losing one, $500 on the Denver Broncos to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. FanDuel’s first bet at 9:01 am saw a bettor wager $21 on Dallas Cowboys v Philadelphia Eagles.

The New York Gaming Commission (NYGC) gave the four sportsbooks the thumbs up to launch Saturday, providing them with a head-start on New York market rivals Bally Bet, BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBet.

Home sweet home

Caesars Sportsbook took to Twitter to capture both the mood and wider implication of the New York launch on the evening prior to kick off:

According to US Bets, FanDuel’s PR machine also recognized the historic moment, stating Saturday morning that: “Residents of New York […] won’t have to travel over bridges, through tunnels, or via highways to place their bets in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Connecticut.”

All four sportsbooks gave out big incentives and sign-up bonuses, upping the ante in the vital battle for New York market share. Backing up Holdren’s statement of intent, Caesars Sportsbook offered a remarkable $3,000 deposit match. Meanwhile, FanDuel opened its Big Apple campaign with a $1,000 first-bet match. BetRivers went with a sign-up bonus up to $250, while DraftKings gave bettors the chance to wager $5 on any moneyline and win $200.

New York’s 51% tax rate on gross gambling revenue ties with New Hampshire’s as the nation’s highest. When the NYGC releases data on monthly betting volume, the taxes flowing into the state’s coffers will also likely make history.

Caesars unveils NY pitchman

Caesars Sportsbook pulled another rabbit out of the hat on launch day through the unveiling of a new brand ambassador.

Former New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist got onto Twitter to express his happiness in becoming pitchman for Caesars and to welcome its sportsbook to New York:

Also making inroads into the New York betting market was FanDuel, who on Thursday announced a multi-year strategic sports betting and DFS partnership with the Buffalo Bills. The deal also gives FanDuel the right to host activation events at the Bills’ Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.