There could be a massive shift in where fans can bet on sports in the near future.
According to ESPN, which cited an unidentified source, there has been a push from team owners of New York and Chicago professional teams to allow sports betting in stadiums. The betting would include more than just kiosks, too.
"They want the whole setup," an unidentified source told ESPN.
Source: Push for professional stadiums in Illinois and New York to be allowed to offer sports betting is coming from team owners.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) June 12, 2019
Bulls declined comment. Bears, Cubs did not respond to requests for comment.
The report comes after an amendment was made Tuesday to New York's sports betting bill, allowing "any professional sports stadium or arena” to have betting kiosks.
Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, New Era Field and KeyBank Center would all be eligible for in-venue sports betting under the latest bill amendment. However, Nassau Coliseum would not be eligible because its seating capacity is less than 15,000 for sporting events, and it's not a permanent home for a professional team.
BREAKING: New York mobile sports betting bill has been amended once again. Under SB 17C, “any professional sports stadium or arena” can have betting kiosks. Previously, only those located in counties w/o tracks/OTBs could do so. Good news for Citi Field, Buffalo venues & Nassau.
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) June 11, 2019
The amendment states the venue must be “the permanent home of a professional sports team playing at the highest professional level in its sport and has a seating capacity (in excess of) 15,000 seats" in order to qualify for in-venue betting under the new amendment.
While it's not clear if or when changes will be made to in-stadium sports betting, New York senator Joseph Addabbo has been optimistic about the process in recent months.
“To do it right, I think we need to do it in a very methodical manner,” Addabbo said in March (via the Associated Press). “I see sports betting being rolled out over a couple of years, to make sure we do it both legally and respecting the integrity of the sport, which is very important, and protecting the consumer. And then I would suggest we do roll it out to the stadiums and other venues at some point.”