Elys’ Executive Chairman Michele Ciavarella submitted written testimony to the Senate Standing Committee On Racing, Gaming, And Wagering – pointing out the benefits of expanding legalised sports wagering to retail business establishments throughout New York.
Per its statement, Elys believes growing the retail market will be convenient for sports bettors looking to support local, brick-and-mortar businesses.
This extends to convenience stores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars where sports events are shown.
Ciavarella said: “Localised retail betting has been a staple of economic benefit for 30-plus years in Europe contributing tax revenue for community services and infrastructure and has recently been adopted in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Ohio as well as Canadian provinces.
“The successful launch of mobile sports betting in the state of New York demonstrates a vast untapped appetite for regulated sports betting within the state. We believe that New York state is in an ideal position to permit retail sports betting with such a robust hospitality scene.”
President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, Melissa Fleischut, added: “The restaurant industry is well positioned to take advantage of this burgeoning marketplace and grow New York’s sports betting footprint.
“We understand sports betting terminals and kiosks will not have a place in every restaurant and expanding available licenses will not be a silver bullet for the industry.
“However, for those where this is a fit, the additional revenue from on-premises sports betting could mean the difference between closing and survival.”
