If New York’s casino and racino operators can’t control online fantasy sports in the state, then no one should.
That’s basically the gambling industry’s argument for killing any bill in Albany that would legalize (and regulate) fantasy sports, “unless it is tied to brick-and-mortar facilities” — like, say . . . the facilities they own.
Talk about gobbling up the competition.
“The New York Gaming Association is unanimous” against legislation to green-light fantasy sports — unless it’s “in cooperation with the existing industry,” says the NYGA’s president, James Featherstonhaugh.
Can anything be more blatantly selfish?
Yet this may be enough to keep the Legislature from doing its job and OK’ing the fantasy sites.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman forced the industry’s big guns, FanDuel and DraftKings, to take a hiatus in New York until lawmakers formally legalize their games. If the Legislature doesn’t get it done by the June 16 end of its session, fantasy sports might be shuttered for Empire State players through the lucrative football season.
But NYGA — whose members are big political donors — may throw a wrench into the works.
Lawmakers should tell the group to take a hike. The NYGA’s hypocrisy is immense.
Greg Carlin of Rush Street Gaming, which is building a casino in Schenectady, is demanding a “high regulatory barrier” for fantasy sports. But Rush Street is a Chicago-based firm with ties to Rotterdam and Houston; it’s even sought Chinese investors.
Meanwhile, the growing fantasy business already employs nearly 200 people here.
Lawmakers need to decide: Do a special favor for casinos and block online sports — or put the rest of the state’s interests first?