Independent gambling regulation consultancy Spectrum Gaming Group have won the tender process to conduct a long-awaited study into the expansion of the state’s gaming market.
A New York Gaming Commission representative confirmed to iGBNorthAmerica Monday (18 November) that Spectrum had won the tender process and that it will begin work on the study on 1 December, pending approval by the state comptroller.
The study will examine the effect of allowing mobile sports betting and igaming in the Empire State.
It will gauge the effects of significantly expanding of New York’s land-based commercial casino market by issuing new licences for up to three additional commercial venues. The study will also examine the effects of varying license fees and tax rates for these additional casinos.
Finally it will look at the potential impact of allowing video lottery terminal facilities to offer sports wagering.
Currently, sports wagers may only be placed at one of New York’s upstate land-based casinos, but State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. is likely to resume efforts to pass a mobile sports betting bill in the 2020 legislative session.
Addabbo introduced a bill for mobile sports wagering in the 2019 session, but although it passed the Senate, it failed to pass through the state Assembly.
The Commission originally launched a tender in June, setting a deadline of 31 July for companies to submit study proposals, with the aim of publishing the report by the end of 2019.
However, this appeared to fall behind schedule, with no announcement of any bids on the initial deadline.
The commission then relaunched the process in September, noting that having a report published quickly is no longer the sole focus.
The original proposal had tasked the winner with examining the effects of the Seneca Nation of Indians’ right to exclusivity for video lottery gaming facilities within its lands, and the impact of losing these exclusive rights. This inquiry was not included in the new request for proposals that resulted in Spectrum being selected to conduct the study.