Sports betting is one step closer to becoming a reality at four upstate casinos, including Schenectady's Rivers Casino.

Gambling regulators approved regulations that will permit wagers at Rivers, along with Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, Tioga Downs in the Southern Tier and Del Lago Resort and Casino in the Finger Lakes.

While the regulations are now in place, bets won't be allowed at the casinos until each receives their wagering license, which is expected to happen later this summer.

For their part, Rivers is already working on creating a 5,000-square foot sports lounge to host interested bettors.

State lawmakers are continuing to debate legislation that would allow bets to be placed on sporting events from your mobile devices, but it may not be approved before the end of the legislative session.

Casinos are hoping this brings more people through the doors to do something that hasn’t always been accessible. 

"For decades, we’ve had gaming, but if you want to place wages on sports teams, you have to go to Nevada," said Rivers Acting GM and Vice President Justin Moore. "People are excited to place bets on teams, and in this area of the country, people are very passionate about sports, especially New York teams."

The hope for casinos is to have everything in place by football season.