Resorts Worlds Catskills has confirmed that it will launch its sportsbook on Thursday. The upstate casino, which is located in Monticello, is one of the four commercial gaming venues that are allowed to offer sports betting services under New York law.
The grand opening of the retail sportsbook, dubbed Sportsbook 360, will take place at 6:30 pm ET on Thursday. The ceremonial first bet will be placed at 7 pm by former NY Jets wide receiver Santana Moss. Former New York Knicks stars John Starks and Larry Johnson are also slated to place their bets before the sportsbook is open to the public.
Sportsbook 360 will run on IGT’s PlaySports platform, while Genius Sports’ subsidiary Betgenius will supply the trading console.
Betgenius’ parent company, Genius Sports, has several official league data partnerships with international sporting organizations, as well as the NBA and NCAA. The firm’s role will entail providing live sports data feeds and price management support to Resorts World.
A Peek Inside Sportsbook 360
The wagering space at Resorts World Catskill is about 6,000 square feet. The state-of-the-art sportsbook has a sitting area with more than 100 seats where customers can relax and watch live events.
The casino has also revealed that the lounge will feature 35 75-inch high-definition televisions arranged around the central bar. The retail sportsbook also includes 15 self-service betting kiosks and cashier windows.
As the casino prepares to launch official wagering services on Thursday, the management is optimistic that Sportsbook 360 will be a huge attraction to bettors in the state.
The casino, formerly owned by Empire Resorts, has been struggling to meet its revenue projections for some time now. In late August, Empire Resort sold the property to casino giant Kien Haut Reality and Genting Malaysia, which also owns the Queens-based Resorts World New York.
The State Of New York Sports Betting
The Empire State legalized sports gambling at four upstate casinos back in 2013, but regulated wagering began on July 16 this year. However, the current law provides for retail sportsbooks at the commercial casinos and tribal gaming venues.
When the market went live, the first legal bet in the state was placed at Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady. Rush Street Gaming LLC owns the casino, and its digital division, Rush Street Interactive, oversees the day-to-day operations of the sportsbook. The wagering platform is powered by Kambi technology.
According to the New York State Gaming Commission, the sportsbook at Rivers Casino has handled $580,000 worth of bets since its launch.
Tioga Downs in Nichols also joined the sports betting industry on July 16 with a FanDuel-branded sportsbook. Since its opening, the book has handled $143,000 in bets.
FanDuel’s rival, DraftKings, joined the New York market with a sportsbook at Del Lago Resort and Casino in Waterloo. The operator has posted about $83,516 in handle since the wagering venue opened on Aug. 23.
Apart from the commercial gambling venues, tribal casinos have also claimed a piece of the pie with the Oneida Indian Nation making the first move.
The tribe is working with Caesars Entertainment to offer sports betting services at three of its casinos. Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona and Point Palace Casino in Bridgeport launched their sportsbooks on Aug. 1. The third property, Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango, began taking wagers on Wednesday.
The Mohawk Nation is also gearing up for the opening of a sportsbook near the northern border. The tribe has a partnership with The Stars Group. Also, the Seneca Nation has announced that it will join the market with a few sportsbooks in the western region later in the year.
