Cuomo Not In Favor Of Online Gambling [POLL]

Let's say you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you know — you just know — which team is going to win the next round of March Madness. So you grab your cellphone and go to your favorite sports betting site and place a bet, right?

Wrong — if you are in New York. Online gambling is not allowed in the state.

And you probably shouldn't expect it to come to the Empire State anytime soon, because Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is against having legalized gambling on smartphones or via the internet.

In January, Cuomo said he might support a limited rollout of sports gambling, but he is "not a fan" of having wagering available on the Web, timesunion.com said.

About two months ago, narrow rules were approved by state regulators that would allow gambling on sports at Native American-owned casinos and upstate private gaming halls.

The New York Post said that casinos in neighboring New Jersey raked in $1.9 billion in sports betting since June, when it became legal there, and 80 percent of the bets were made online or via smartphones.

Cuomo downplayed that $1.9 billion number, saying the actual amount of revenue that New Jersey saw was only about $13 million, the Post said.

One state legislator — Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon — who is chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Racing and Wagering, said the governor is missing out on the tax benefits that New York could receive if online gambling was allowed.

He told the Buffalo News that Cuomo should take a closer look into the issue.

Pretlow said a low estimate of what is being illegally wagered annually in New York on sports is $10 billion, which would be worth $100 million in yearly taxes, the Buffalo News reported.

Now it's your turn. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think of New York having online gambling in the comments.