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A Queens lawmaker wants to legalize betting on professional sports in New York — and his proposed legislation has the backing of one of the state’s top prosecutors, Brooklyn DA Charles “Joe” Hynes, The Post has learned.
State Sen. Tony Avella’s bill would allow betting on baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer at the Aqueduct and Yonkers racinos and all casinos across the state, as well as off-track betting parlors outside the city.
Currently, only betting on horse racing is legal.
Such legalized betting in the sports-crazed Big Apple could become a cash cow for the state, where fans passionately follow — and often illegally bet on — the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets Knicks and Rangers.
Citing a study conducted by the New York City Partnership five years ago, Democrat Avella said betting on pro sports would generate more than $2 billion.
He said the state’s cut from the racino sports book would go to fund schools.
“We have to think out of the box. I’d rather come up with revenue this way rather than raising property taxes,” said Avella.
Source: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/...XUhhUK3NUaBI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local
A Queens lawmaker wants to legalize betting on professional sports in New York — and his proposed legislation has the backing of one of the state’s top prosecutors, Brooklyn DA Charles “Joe” Hynes, The Post has learned.
State Sen. Tony Avella’s bill would allow betting on baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer at the Aqueduct and Yonkers racinos and all casinos across the state, as well as off-track betting parlors outside the city.
Currently, only betting on horse racing is legal.
Such legalized betting in the sports-crazed Big Apple could become a cash cow for the state, where fans passionately follow — and often illegally bet on — the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets Knicks and Rangers.
Citing a study conducted by the New York City Partnership five years ago, Democrat Avella said betting on pro sports would generate more than $2 billion.
He said the state’s cut from the racino sports book would go to fund schools.
“We have to think out of the box. I’d rather come up with revenue this way rather than raising property taxes,” said Avella.
Source: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/...XUhhUK3NUaBI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local