New York Senate Committee Signs off on Trio of Gambling Bills

Article by : Erik Gibbs Mar 18, 2024

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The New York State Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee has approved a plan to increase state funding for addressing gambling addiction. All three are part of bills S8439, S1550 and S1557, which are currently making their way through the legislative process.

These bills aim to bolster problem gambling programs, restrict underage participation and regulate gambling-related advertising. Following the recent committee approval, the bills await consideration on the Senate floor.

Additionally, Committee Chair Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. welcomed Patricia Lincourt from New York’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) in acknowledgment of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, as she oversees Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Services (ATRS).

The committee prioritized proposed legislation, notably NY’s S1550, led by Senator Leroy Comrie with collaborative backing from Liz Krueger and Luis R. Sepúlveda.

This bill mandates comprehensive gambling and sports betting advertisements to include cautions about the potential addictive consequences and necessitates collaboration between the state gaming commission and the commissioner of addiction services.

It also ensures the inclusion of a problem gambling hotline number in all gaming-related ads. With a favorable committee vote, the bill now advances to the Senate floor.

Another significant initiative, S1557, led by Addabbo and supported by Krueger, aims to prohibit individuals under 21 from gambling. Despite opposition from Senator Pamela Helming and Senator James Tedisco, the bill has received enough support to move forward for further consideration.

Helming raised concerns about the bill’s impact on bingo, while Tedisco questioned the broader implications of age-based decision-making, drawing parallels with other pivotal life choices like voting, marriage and military service.

Addabbo-sponsored bill S8439 is advancing in the Senate committee. It aims to allocate 1% of New York’s online sports betting tax revenue to combat problem gambling, potentially injecting $2.5 million into this cause.

Lincourt highlighted that these funds would primarily support prevention efforts and peer-to-peer recovery infrastructure.

Helming endorsed this initiative, emphasizing the urgent need for mental health services in schools. Nonetheless, Addabbo noted a challenge: the annual problem gambling funding cap of $6 million, irrespective of escalating betting activity.

New York’s sports betting sector remains robust, with monthly wagers exceeding $1 billion for seven consecutive months, affirming its status as a thriving market in the nation.