Rush Street Interactive launched its BetRivers Sportsbook for mobile New York sports betting Saturday morning, joining what is expected to be the most lucrative online sports wagering market in the United States.
BetRivers Sportsbook New York went live at 9 a.m. Saturday along with Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel NY and DraftKings NY.
The Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive (RSI) launched BetRivers in 2018 and New York will be the 12th state where it is eligible to operate via mobile.
RSI, which also operates PlaySugarHouse.com, is currently live with real money online casinos in 12 states — Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia and Arizona.
Bet Rivers is offering customers who deposit $250 in their accounts a matching $250 worth of free bets.
BetRivers in NY Upstate Casino
In addition to its New York sports betting app, a BetRivers retail sportsbook is also available at Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, one of four upstate retail sportsbooks in operation. The other three commercial casinos are Resorts World Casino in Monticello, Tioga Downs in Nichols and Del Lago Casino in Waterloo.
Rush Street was one of nine operators awarded mobile sports betting licenses in November by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC).
The other eight licensed mobile betting operators are: Caesars, FanDuel NY, DraftKings NY, PointsBET, Bally Bet, Resorts World, BetMGM NY and WynnBET.
NY Sports Betting App Customers Key
Even though, with 19.3 million residents, New York is only the fourth-largest state in population, it is considered a crown jewel to mobile sports betting operators because it has legal sports betting, both online and retail.
Consider: No. 1 California (39.6 million) and No. 2 Texas (29.7 million) do not have sports betting. That probably will remain true until 2023 at the earliest. And Florida, the No. 3 state in population, has had legal challenges after previously having only one sportsbook run by the Seminole Tribe (Hard Rock Sportsbook). There is now no betting at all in Florida.
November Numbers in New York
Retail is the only form of sports wagering in New York, taking place at the four upstate casinos. The launch of pre-registrations is in anticipation of servers being placed and ready at those locations.
The November sports handle numbers for New York showed handle was down but revenue was up.
Total sports handle was $21.519 million in November, a drop from $25.567 million in October. Rivers, at $9.9 million, led the casinos, followed by Del Lago ($6.15 million), Resorts World Catskills ($3.8 million) and Tioga Downs ($1.7 million).
Those numbers surely will soar as mobile sports betting takes root in the Empire State.
Rivers almost topped the $10 million mark again. In October, Rivers was the first of the four casinos to exceed $10 million in sports betting handle for one month ($11.9 million). Handle figures from the NYSGC only have been available since April.
Responsible Betting Campaign
A national organization in December aimed to get out ahead of mobile betting by announcing a plan to promote responsible wagering.
The American Gaming Association has a partnership with Madison Square Garden on its campaign called “Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™
MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment with activate the campaign in the arena and in digital media with the New York Rangers (NHL) and New York Knicks (NBA).
The aim of the program is to promote what the AGA considers the four principles of responsible sports betting: Set a budget and stick to it, know the odds, keep betting social and play with trusted, regulated operators.
