BATAVIA, N.Y. --  A lot can change day-to-day, even hour-to-hour, as the New York State Legislative session nears its close. Western Region Off-Track Betting President Henry Wojtaszek is counting on it.

"We're cautiously optimistic that it would be something that's going to pass and we'll have sports betting before the football season 2018," he said.

The tone coming from Albany about legalizing sports gambling was pretty pessimistic Thursday, particularly in the Assembly. The bill's sponsors said they're running out of time.

"I believe that there is still some negotiating going on," Wojtaszek said. "We've heard from some representatives from our area and also from other parts of the state, they're going to continue to try to work this thing out."

He said concerns raised by legislators about how people could sign up to place bets, the regulatory structure and how quickly a system could get up in running are legitimate

"I don't think any of them are insurmountable. I think there are ways to address all of them," he said.

New concerns recently raised by Native American casinos about whether the law would violate exclusivity rights have also thrown a wrench in things. The OTB president said he received a document outlining those issues and was in the process of reviewing it.

"They exist with the Native American casino. I'm not sure that it resonates with the Legislature or the Governor's Office," he said.

Wojtaszek warned if the state does not move quickly it risks losing market share not just to Native American casinos but surrounding states.

"The state will not realize the revenue that it's able to and also we will be hurt because it will prevent us from keeping our business going, growing jobs and again returning money to the communities which is what the off-track betting corporations do,' he said.

While he believes the state Senate and Assembly can reach a compromise the governor would be willing to sign - Wojtaszek does not expect a special session if that does not happen.