FanDuel opens 2nd sportsbook of New York at Tioga Downs Casino Resort

FanDuel celebrated Friday the grand opening of the company’s first retail sportsbook in New York State, located at Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols, New York. Jeff Gural, the owner of the resort and Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment, pushed to legalize sports betting in New York state and bring Fanduel to the Southern Tier after its success at Meadowlands, a New Jersey Casino.

"It's kind of an advantage to open in a slow season, get all the kinks out, and then, hopefully, once football season starts, at the end of August, beginning of September, this place will be mobbed. On Sundays I'm sure it will be mobbed because we were mobbed without sports betting. But this is a really beautiful job that Fanduel did; they built a nice facility," Gural said.

He was joined by New York Assemblymember, Donna Lupardo, and Fanduel's Vice President of Commercial Retail, Keith Walls. The three cut the ceremonial tape to the entrance. 

"New York residents have been waiting for this for years. We've been waiting for it for years. Our partner, Jeff Gural, has been sort of endless in his journey to get sports betting legal and luckily enough now we are able to launch this week with Sportsbook in Tioga, and, you know, bring what we feel is a world-class experience to sports betters," Walls said. The Assembly Woman placed the lounge's first sports bet. 

“As we continue to expand our sportsbook operations across the U.S. the opening of our FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort is a history-making moment for the FanDuel Group,” Wall added. “Jeff Gural has been an incredible partner in New Jersey, and joining forces with him and the team at Tioga Downs allows us to bring sports betting to New York sports fans while delivering new jobs and tax revenue to the Empire State.”

Scenes from our Grand Opening at @tiogadowns 👀

Thank you to all who joined us, especially @DonnaLupardo for placing the ceremonial first bet.

Her wager: Coco Gauff to win the U.S. Open (36/1)💰

Read more about our new Sportsbook: https://t.co/baixB4wphK pic.twitter.com/Gz5NIagJAO

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) July 19, 2019

Tioga Downs’ sports betting retail location is one of four upstate New York casinos permitted to offer sports betting in the state of New York.

“Our partnership with FanDuel at the Meadowlands has surpassed expectations,” Gural said. “Now that legislation in New York has been passed, we look forward to bringing the fun and excitement of wagering on sports to the Upstate region.”

FanDuel’s new 2,600 square foot sports betting retail location will be conveniently located near the main entrance of the Tioga Downs Casino. The FanDuel Sportsbook will feature eight betting windows, 27 video displays including a large video wall, 14 self service betting kiosks from IGT PlayDigital, three sports tickers, 12 lounge seats, seven high tables, two drink rails, and seating for more than 50 customers.

FanDuel will provide its first-class risk and trading platform and manage the location in partnership with Tioga Downs Casino Resort and will leverage IGT PlayDigital’s retail sports betting technology. The FanDuel Sportsbook will feature bets on all major U.S. sports, including professional baseball, soccer, football, basketball, golf, boxing, motorsports racing, and more.  

The FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort marks FanDuel Group’s fourth retail operation. The company opened the first-ever FanDuel Sportsbook located at New Meadowlands Racetrack last July, followed by a location at The Greenbrier in West Virginia last fall and most recently at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania.

Last week, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady officially launched legal sports betting in New York State with the opening of its new Rivers Sportsbook lounge, becoming the first of the four upstate gambling parlors to roll out legal sports betting following the PASPA’s repeal.