ALBANY – Fantasy sports betting advocates were racing the clock Tuesday to pass a bill that would legalize the industry in New York and they brought out two pro quarterbacks to drive their message home.
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and ex-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde made the rounds at the Capitol to talk up the betting sites.
“New York is home to 11 pro sports teams, headquarters of every professional sports league and is the sports capital of the world,” Testaverde said. “New York should be the fantasy sports capital of the work – not only for fans, but for the industry as well.”
Both athletes were paid for their efforts, but both said they have family and friends who are huge fans.
“I see what fantasy sports has done to my friends-how excited they get, how crazy they get,” Kelly said. “I’d say about 85 percent of my friends play.”
Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mt. Vernon) and Sen. John Bonacic (R-Middletown) have agreed on a bill that would allow the state to regulate the industry.
Bonacic said it’s likely to pass by Thursday, when the current legislative session is scheduled to end.
“I don’t play it but everybody in my office plays it and the ages of the people on my staff are in their late 20s and 30s,” Bonacic said.
‘New York should be the fantasy sports capital of the work – not only for fans, but for the industry as well.’
- Vinny Testaverde
“I know that this skill game is very popular with New Yorkers. So, I said I would carry the legislation and I never expected the storm that occurred unexpectedly from gaming interests in the state of New York to try to kill fantasy sports at this level and let the litigation continue.”
Opponents tried another roadblock Tuesday.
The New York State Gaming Association — which represents Resorts World casino at Aqueduct and eight other race track slot parlors — filed a complaint with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics claiming the sports fantasy operators engaged in improper lobbying.
DraftKings, FanDuel and Fantasy Sports for All failed to register as lobbyists and under-reported their lobbying expenses to persuade Albany to legalize the online rotisserie leagues, one source said.
JCOPE spokesman Walter McClure confirmed the ethics watchdog had received the complaint, but declined further comment.
The firms did contract with outside lobbyists to push their cause, and those transactions were reported to JCOPE.
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile