New York State Gaming Commission Conditionally Approves Proposed Sports Wagering Regulations

On January 28, 2019, the New York State Gaming Commission (“Commission”) voted to conditionally approve proposed sports wagering regulations for the state.  The approval of these proposed regulations is an important event in the fast-developing landscape of legal, state-regulated sports betting. 

Until 2018, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (“PASPA”) generally made it unlawful for states to authorize commercial sports gambling.  That changed on May 14, 2018, when the United States Supreme Court held in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that PASPA’s prohibition was unconstitutional.  In the wake of Murphy, several states rushed to legalize sports betting, hoping to turn a chunk of the estimated $150 Billion in yearly illegal wagers into much-needed state revenue.

New York regulators, however, did not take immediate steps to authorize and implement a legalized sports betting regime.  That changed on January 28, 2019, when the Commission voted unanimously to conditionally approve proposed sports wagering regulations, launching a 60-day public comment period.  After the 60-day period, the Commission will meet again to modify and/or finalize the regulations. 

To read the full memorandum, click here.

If you have any questions about the issues addressed in this memorandum, or if you would like a copy of any of the materials mentioned in it, please do not hesitate to reach out to:

Michael T. Zeller
Email: michaelzeller@quinnemanuel.com
Phone: +1 213-443-3180

Stephen Q. Wood
Email: stephenwood@quinnemanuel.com
Phone: +1 801-515-7300