The state Gaming Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved rules for sports betting at the casinos and racetracks that applied for it. The commission also has begun to take applications from those interested in offering online sports betting.

“Today is a watershed moment for this new industry and we will continue to work aggressively and deliberately to protect our gaming licenses and ensure the integrity of operations,” said Gaming Commission Chairman Gregg B. Berman . “These new rules are the result of an inclusive, transparent process that allowed us to consider feedback from all industry stakeholders.”

The approved sports betting rules provide for wagering on professional and college sporting events to begin Saturday at 9 a.m., when the first bets will be taken in the “Big Apple Sports” machine in the grand lobby at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady.

The commission decided not to require betting to begin by 9 a.m. each day, allowing sports book operators discretion to open when they feel their employees and systems are ready. Opening hours will be posted in all race and sports books across the state.

Betting will be available at all four commercial casinos and at Finger Lakes Racetrack, with the exception of Monticello Casino & Raceway, because it does not have a video lottery terminal facility. Empire City Casino in Yonkers wants to offer sports betting on an interim basis for this weekend only before making changes that are required by

its ownership.

Last week, the commission awarded four sports betting licenses to Resorts World New York City , Empire City Casino (Yonkers), Ocean Resort Casino (Atlantic City) and Rivers; two of the awards were made on an interim basis subject to later review by the commissioners.

The licensees can offer to wager below or above the point spread, on proposition wagers such as whether a team will cover the spread and whether there will be over time. The new rules also permit some in-play betting while sports events are in progress.

The casinos and racetrack must limit bets to $100; gamblers can bet up to $500 if they sign up for an account, which requires identity verification. There will be no limit on the number of bets that can be placed in a day or over the course of a game.

The betting terminals will show odds and offer parlay wagers on multiple games; players also can make proposition wagers like whether an overtime period will occur during a game. Wagering options will be limited to those that are made available by the racetracks and casinos.

The state is also preparing for intrastate online sports betting by taking applications from potential operators, with a deadline of July 31. The first licenses would be awarded next month, with all bets expected to take place on mobile devices within 12 months.

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