Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams planned to make an announcement about sports gambling and casinos in New York at a 10:30 a.m. media availability outside the Barclays Center on Thursday, March 26, his office said in advisories ahead of the event. The Office of the Public Advocate did not preview the substance of the announcement, describing it only as an availability on sports gambling.
Williams' office staged the appearance to coincide with the sports calendar, noting in its advisory that the event fell on baseball's Opening Day and as the Sweet 16 round of the men's college basketball tournament, March Madness, was set to tip off. The office said the announcement would touch on both sports betting and casinos in New York, but the advisories released March 26 did not specify any legislation, position or proposal.
At the availability, Williams unveiled a plan his office titled “Play It Safe,” a “Suite of Sixteen” steps to mitigate gambling harm in New York, framing it around the spread of legalized sports betting and a wave of new casinos. “With legalized sports betting sweeping the city and three new casinos coming to the five boroughs, we can't gamble on the health of our neighbors and communities,” Williams said in the release. As the Queens Ledger reported, the rollout pointed to roughly $3.3 billion expected to be wagered on March Madness this year, a 54% increase over three years.
The media availability was set for 620 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn, outside the Barclays Center, the office said. According to the advisory, Williams was to be joined by local elected officials and advocates. The office listed [email protected] and 917.608.8784 as contacts for the event.
The gambling announcement was one of two items on Williams' public schedule for the day, his office said. At 6 p.m., the public advocate was set to host his office's annual Women's History Month celebration at 31 Chambers St. in Manhattan, according to the schedule.
