If you live in the Bronx, you will know that there is nowhere quite like New York to call home. This is especially true when it comes to sports! New York is a city that holds sports close to its heart – the city has hosted some of the top sporting events and is home to some of the best pro sides around.
It is not just following sports that New Yorkers love to do, though. Many also like to place bets on the outcome of games of football, baseball or basketball. In the present day, this sees New Yorkers flocking to place sports bets online. In fact, this now seems to be the most popular way in which people from places like the Bronx like to bet. With the whole sports betting market in NY predicted to be worth $500m in annual tax revenue, it is clear to see how huge wagering on matches or events is.
But why do New York residents like to place sports bets online now?
Legislation is on their side
The first major reason why New Yorkers are now starting to place sports bets online is because the law finally allows them to do so. This had not been the case until recently, and the illegal status of online sports betting in the past prevented people from betting in this way. Online sports betting in New York is now totally legal and this has opened the doors for New Yorkers to start wagering at internet sportsbooks.
But what has been happening in terms of changing legislation for NY online sports betting? Although a raft of states legalized this activity after the 2018 US Supreme Court Ruling on sports betting, New York was not one of these, initially. While there was legislation from 2013 allowing on-site sports betting at specific locations in the state, online betting was not covered. Over time, though, pressure built up on state officials to change this and they finally relented in late 2021 / early 2022.
Online sports betting more convenient
It is not all about the legality of sports betting when it comes to looking at why people are starting to wager in this way. There is a range of factors inherent in online betting which help make it popular. One of these is pure convenience. In simple terms, it is a lot quicker and easier to place a bet online than in person.
For example, online wagering can be done from the comfort of your own home, any time you like. If you fancy placing a bet while out of the house, this can be done from anywhere via mobile betting apps on your smartphone. This convenience is a major factor behind the rising appetite for online betting in the city.
Range of sportsbooks to bet at online
To date, five online sportsbooks (FanDuel US, Caesars Casino, BetMGM Casino, DraftKings and BetRivers Casino) have been licensed to operate in New York. It is also sensible to think that the growing NY sports betting market will attract more licensed sportsbooks to open in the state. All this gives New Yorkers a great choice in where to place bets and makes it simple to track down a sportsbook to wager with online. As a result, more and more people in the city have started to place bets digitally.
Legal online betting is safer
Safety is another reason why those around the Bronx and other parts of New York are placing their sports bets online. The online platforms to bet at are all fully regulated and use the latest online security measures to keep your cash and personal details safe. This not only means you can be confident of not being scammed when you use a regulated online sportsbook but you also know you are betting somewhere that treats people well. This is not always the case if you go to an unlicensed local bookmaker in person.
Sports betting online taking off in New York
Anyone who lives in or around the Bronx knows how big sports are in New York. Indeed, many Bronx residents will already be wondering how local sides may fare in the coming months. The chances of NYFC or the Yankees tasting success in 2022 is certainly one question lots of people are pondering! While betting on sports in person had been popular previously, it seems the newly regulated online wagering market is now the go-to choice for many New Yorkers. When you consider the benefits offered, this is easy to understand.
