Trade group seeks on-premises betting in New York restaurants

The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) has called on lawmakers to expand gaming licenses in New York State to include restaurants.

In a press statement, the trade group said the inclusion of on-premises betting “will expand the economic arsenal available to restaurants as they continue to struggle with the harsh economic environment.” NYSRA added that restaurants in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio and several Canadian provinces have successfully incorporated on-premises betting to help revive their revenue streams.

“New York must capture this economic opportunity and expand the type of licenses available to restaurants and meet consumer demand,” said NYSRA President and CEO Melissa Fleischut. “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 might not have a place in every restaurant and expanding available licenses may 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.”