A bill introduced in the New York legislature would allow prop betting on professional sports for people playing fantasy sports on legal gambling sites. Sen. Joseph Addabbo and Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow – New York’s two most passionate gambling-supporting lawmakers – introduced the bill to try to bring in more revenue to the state.
“Fantasy sports was only getting about $3 million to $4 million a year for the state,” Addabbo told Newsday. “Are you kidding me? Why are we not maximizing fantasy sports like other states?”
limits prop betting to wagers between people in the same fantasy league during the same game
In an attempt to limit the potential for scandal, like in the NBA’s Jontay Porter case, or abuse by customers, the bill limits prop betting to wagers between people in the same fantasy league during the same game. To satisfy the concerns of the New York Gaming Commission, Pretlow said that one possible compromise could be to limit prop bets to season-long wagers, like who will win the Cy Young award.
Because prop bets would be added to fantasy sports, the bill also increases the legal age to participate in fantasy sports from 18 to 21. According to Newsday, the legislation has not gained much attention because it would be part of fantasy sports, which are considered games of skill in New York. Thus, the proposal is not technically gambling expansion, which would likely bring with it legislative hearings.