The revamped bill being pushed by Pretlow and Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) would enable tribal and business casinos to provide sports betting statewide should they pony up to get a license fee of $12 million. Additionally, it requires casinos to pay a state tax of 8.5% of gross sports wagering earnings and a 12% tax on cellular sports wagers. With the end on the legislative session rapidly approaching and a plethora of different problems being prioritized over Online Betting wagering, a recently tweaked invoice allowing four private casinos and Online Betting people run by Native American tribes to get in on the action is stuck in the starting gate.

Current state law only allows in-person sports betting at the upstate casinos, but regulations governing the websites are still pending. "We're attempting to do our very best to get this moving," Pretlow said, adding that he'd love to see Gov. Cuomo come out in favor of this idea. "We are running out of time and the governor has not said ‘I want to get it done,' and I believe that's the signal people are waiting for." The governor, who has stood with his stance that an amendment to state constitution is needed to permit remote wagering via mobile devices, Online Betting offered gamblers that a glimmer of hope last week.