New York could become the first U.S. state to prevent sportsbooks from restricting customers solely for winning consistently. Assemblymember Alex Bores introduced the Fair Play Act in September, aiming to make it illegal for operators to limit wager sizes or ban players based on successful betting. Exceptions are included for cases tied to problem gambling or suspicious wagering. The legislature will reconvene in January 2026, with the bill assigned to the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee.
States Examine Bettor Limit Practices
While New York would be a pioneer in codifying protections, other states have explored similar practices. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has conducted hearings with sportsbook operators to assess betting limits and their impact on consumers.
Carrie Torrisi, head of the MGC’s Sports Wagering Division, explained: “Analysis confirmed that players who consistently beat the closing line are likely to have a lower stake factor, meaning have their limit lowered, and players who do not consistently beat the closing line are more likely to have a higher stake factor, meaning have their limit raised.”
Data collected by the MGC showed that just over 0.5% of bettors were subject to limits, with varying degrees of restriction. MGC Chair Jordan Maynard noted that while the findings aligned with prior complaints, operators must manage enterprise risk. Regulators emphasized the need for improved notification to bettors about restrictions but did not implement new measures.
Wyoming regulators conducted a similar review this year and reported that sportsbooks limit fewer than 1% of accounts, with less than 10% of those limits resulting from errors or exploitation.
Industry Concerns and Market Context
Operators in New York are expected to resist legislation that could affect profits. During legalization, sportsbooks opposed the state’s 51% tax rate and have voiced concerns about limiting restrictions impacting sharp bettors.
DraftKings’ fiscal report noted: “It is customary for sports betting operators to manage customer betting limits at the individual level to manage enterprise risk levels. We believe this practice is beneficial overall, because if it were not possible, betting options would be restricted globally and limits available to customers would be much lower to insulate overall risk due to the existence of a small segment of highly sophisticated syndicates and algorithmic bettors, or bettors looking to take advantage of errors and omissions on our platforms.”
Since 2019, New York sportsbooks have handled more than $74.9 billion in wagers, generating $6.7 billion in revenue and over $3.4 billion in taxes.
Bettor Notification and Future Implications
A9125 stipulates that operators must provide written notice within 24 hours if a bet or account is limited, including reasons, duration, and a helpline number if applicable. This ensures transparency while maintaining safeguards for suspected gambling issues or suspicious activity. Previous attempts in New York, such as Assemblyman Robert Carroll’s bill limiting daily wagers to $5,000, stalled due to concerns that bettors would move to neighboring states.
If enacted, the Fair Play Act would establish a significant precedent for bettor protection, potentially influencing how other states approach fairness in sports wagering.
Source:
“New York bill would prevent sportsbooks from limiting successful bettors”, igamingbusiness.com, October 13, 2025
The post New York Bill Aims to Protect Winning Sports Bettors first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.