The selection of licenced online sportsbooks in New York is made by the State Gaming Commission.

The New York State Gaming Commission apparently reached a consensus on who should be awarded the state's first two master online sportsbetting licences for a period of 10 years after months of debate.

A source claims that the New York regulator has approved the consortium of FanDuel Group, DraftKings, Inc., MGM Resorts International, and Bally's Corporation to operate a local online sportsbetting licence. Concurrently, the regulator allegedly suggested granting the second licence to a group consisting of Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, Rush Street Interactive, Genting Malaysia, and PointsBet USA, a division of Australian online sportsbook operator PointsBet Holdings Proprietary Limited.

Aid from a distance

Despite having a population of over 20 million people, since June 2019, when retail sportsbetting was legalised in New York, just a few million dollars had been generated in aggregated handle. Proponents of going digital claim that as much as 90% of sports betting action in "The Empire State" might be performed remotely in the future, resulting in an annual tax revenue of up to $500 million.

First, the football:

This week's recommendations allegedly suggest that the winning businesses may now be able to have their internet operations for New York up and running by the time Super Bowl LVI starts off on February 13. Some industry analysts had expected that the licencing process may linger into the New Year. According to the same source, all nine successful businesses will be able to launch what are popularly known as "skins," or customer-facing remote sportsbetting brands, as long as they agree to pay a 51% gross revenue tax.

Premises of a Casino:

Applicants' ability to secure space for their servers within one of New York's four commercial casinos—including Resorts World Catskills, Rivers Casino and Resort Schenectady, Tioga Downs Casino Resort, and Del Lago Resort & Casino—is said to be a major factor in determining the launch date, as revealed by New York State Senator Joe Addabbo. To meet the legal definition of on-site casino gambling in New York, all incoming internet wagers must ostensibly go via such terminals.

Documentation Obligatory:

It has been stated that until the regulator publishes its final recommendations in the official register, none of the nine operators will be authorised to begin offering online sports wagering, further complicating the timeline. According to reports, the New York State Gaming Commission is shooting for a Thursday submission date for these recommendations, which would push the effective date out to at least November 24.

Defeated competitors:

Penn National Gaming Incorporated, the company behind the Barstool Sports online sportsbetting brand, and licenced sports merchandise giant Fanatics had apparently teamed up in the hopes of securing one of the New York licences, so the announcement from the New York State Gaming Commission has apparently come as a blow to both companies. Others reportedly shut down include London-listed iGaming giant Flutter Entertainment and its FoxBet brand, Canadian inventor Score Media and Gaming Incorporated, and European major Bet365 Group Limited.