It’s good to be king. It’s not so good to be a deposed king. Now that New York State offers mobile sports betting, New Jersey knows the feeling.
The Garden State has been out in front ever since widespread legal sports betting began in 2018—in fact, it was Jersey’s legal challenge that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), opening the door to the fast-growing national industry.
Now New Jersey is on the outside looking in when it comes to mobile sports betting. Statistics confirm that New York—which launched mobile sports bets January 9—was top dog in digital bets during the first two weekends of this month, with more than 35 million discrete transactions.
New Yorkers placed a record-shattering $603 million in bets during the launch of mobile sports gambling, according to initial figures released by the state Gaming Commission on Friday.
With excitement mounting for the Super Bowl, the Olympics and other big sporting events, it’s time to get in the game. If you’re 21 years of age or older, inside the state of New York and have an internet connection, you can participate in mobile sports betting and take advantage of these great sign-up bonuses.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook typically offers a sign-up bonus of $1,001. But the Vegas-based bookie is going big for its Empire State debut. Caesars offers a 100% deposit match up to $1,500 for new players. The sports-savvy operator also serves up a variety of single-game parlay options, weekly promotions and 24/7 customer support on a smart, user-friendly platform.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Another Nevada-based operation, BetMGM loves New York and proves it with a generous $1,000 risk-free bet and a $10 free weekly bet. BetMGM has staked its claim in New York, partnering with NYRA Bets for horse betting. BetMGM also became the official sports betting partner of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden. The parlay bonuses really spice things up, and increase your chances to win big when combining multiple events.
PointsBet Sportsbook
Australian-based PointsBet has gone all in on U.S. sports betting, and it shows. The exclusive sports betting partner of NBC Sports offers custom wagers on select markets and rewards bettors on their accuracy. For instance, a $10 bet on the over total could lead to a $100 payout if the game finishes 10 points over the line. PointsBet also offers regular odds boosts. On sign-up, it gives you two risk-free bets valued at up to $2,000: as much as $500 on a fixed-bet wager loss and $1,500 on a Points Betting loss.
BetRivers Sportsbook
New Yorkers already know the BetRivers brand. Operated by Rush Street Interactive, it already has a retail sportsbook at its Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady. The mobile app should be a winner too—it’s easily navigable with an attractive interface, and offers frequent bonuses for bettors. At BetRivers, it’s all about fun and fair gambling without all the gimmicks. Your first deposit will be matched dollar for dollar up to $250. The sportsbook also offers exciting daily and weekly promotions.
Summing It Up
The rocket launch of New York sports betting is due mostly to native New Yorkers, according to Lindsay Slader, managing director of gaming for geolocation firm GeoComply. “The data tell us that New Yorkers are dumping illegal sportsbooks for the new legal options, and operators are also excelling at attracting first-time bettors,” she recently told the Associated Press.
State Senator Joe Addabbo, a leading proponent of mobile bets in the state, is one New Yorker who’s glad to be able to finally place a legal bet at home.
“I don’t have to watch a game any longer and see ads targeting New Yorkers to go to New Jersey to bet,” he said. “I wanted to rip the TV off the wall.”
Thankfully, now New Yorkers can skip anger-management classes and bet legally in their home state. Don’t wait. Sign up today and place your first legal sports bet. Be sure to follow iGaming Player for the best bonuses, promotions, weekly picks and sports betting advice.
