Why Cant I Bet on the NBA Draft in My State? – The Action Network

Betting on the NBA draft has, in recent years, emerged as a popular angle to the hours long event, that lets face it traditionally hasnt been too interesting after the first couple of big names fall.

But while fans from around the country will be able to place bets on their teams first pick, where their favorite college college player will go, etc. , those attending the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn Thursday wont.

Thats because New York is among six legal betting states with mobile betting Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Virginia plus the District of Columbia that doesnt count the NBA Draft as a sporting event. (If you add in non-mobile states that list grows to eight with North Carolina and Washington.)

New York, which amended its law in 2021 to include online wagering, defines an eligible sports betting event as an event at which two or more persons participate in sports or athletic events and receive compensation in excess of actual expenses for their participation in such event.

That definition also prevents legal betting on future award winners like the 2023 MVP or Defensive Player of the Year. If you open up the NBA tab in any of New Yorks eight up-and-running mobile apps, the only options youll see are for champion and conference winners.

Theres room for that to change, though itll require a new law.

Earlier this year, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. told Action Network its something hes considering as he looks to expand sports betting in the future.

Lawmakers wont meet again until next year, but this past session they explored a number of betting expansions thatll likely re-emerge after New York has a full year of online gaming under its belt. Those included, more online sportsbooks, a lower tax rate,fixed mobile odds on horse races, as well as kiosk betting at stadiums.

Someday draft attendees may be able to bet on who goes No. 1 on the same concourse they buy a hotdog from, but for now theyll have to wait.

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Why Cant I Bet on the NBA Draft in My State? - The Action Network