With the impending launch of New York sports betting apps, a national organization is getting in the game in the Empire State to make sure that all customers wager responsibly.
Madison Square Garden Sports, along with its entertainment division, announced Friday a partnership with the American Gaming Association’s “Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™” campaign to promote responsible gaming.
“With the continued growth of legal sports gaming throughout the tri-state area, it’s a priority for MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment to ensure that fans and viewers have access to educational resources on how to wager responsibly,” Ron Skotarczak, the executive vice president for marketing partnerships at Madison Square Garden Entertainment, said in a news release. “Providing a platform to amplify 'Have a Game Plan' is essential to our strategy and supporting future growth in this industry.”
MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment will activate the campaign through digital media and in the arena with the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. It also will be seen on the MSG Network, including regular features on three of its new betting shows: “Odds with Ends,” “The Bettor Half Hour” and “The Betting Exchange.”
“MSG is a fixture in the New York Sports Betting market, and we are proud to have them join 'Have a Game Plan,' " AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark said. “MSG’s unique activations further support our goal of convening the sports betting ecosystem around a common message to advance responsible gaming.”
The campaign promotes four principles of responsible sports betting: set a budget and stick to it, keep betting social, know the odds, and play with trusted, regulated operators.
The operators in New York, announced on Nov. 8, are: Resorts World, PointsBET, Fanduel New York, DraftKings, BetMGM NY, Bally Bet, Rush Street Interactive (parent company of BetRivers), Caesars Sportsbook New York and WynnBET New York.
Launched in late 2019, “Have a Game Plan” educates sports fans on the principles of responsible sports betting, which today is legal in 32 states and the District of Columbia with 142 million adults able to bet legally.
MSG Sports joins a growing list of partners with the AGA, including BetMGM New York, DraftKings NY, Entain, FanDuel, Global Payments, MGM Resorts International, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, the New York Jets, NHL, Nuvei, the PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, UFC, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Football Team.
Awaiting Sports Betting Apps, NY Sets Revenue Mark
The dawn of mobile betting in 2022 will skyrocket the revenue figures in the state. As is, New York smashed its sports betting handle record in October.
The four commercial casinos that take bets had a handle that rose to $25.56 million for the month. That easily broke the previous record, set in September, of $17.36 million.
All four sportsbooks broke the monthly handle mark as well.
New York was led Rivers Casino in Schenectady ($11.9 million), Del Lago in Waterloo ($7.49 million), Resorts World Catskills in Monticello ($3.92 million) and Tioga Downs in Nichols ($2.24 million).
However, state revenues fell in October. The casinos combined for $1.719 million in sports wagering revenue, down 46.1% from $3.19 million in September.
