New York is expanding efforts to address problem gambling as mobile sports betting and prediction markets give consumers constant access to wagering.
Legal mobile sports betting launched in New York in 2022 for people aged 21 and older. By 2025, bettors had placed nearly $58 billion in wagers, according to the New York State Gaming Commission.
During a New York State Bar Association seminar, Katie Mibaum, team leader at the New York Council on Problem Gambling, said gambling becomes problematic when it interferes with everyday responsibilities.
“We define gambling as risking something of value for the chance of a reward,” said Mibaum.
She also identified chasing losses and a personal or family history of addiction as risk factors.
Mobile Betting Raises Concerns
Mibaum said smartphone betting can make gambling harder to control because users can wager at any hour. Advertising also reaches younger audiences during sporting events.
“Younger folks might not be as aware of media advertisement, and might not be aware that they’re being targeted with a lot of these different ads,” said Mibaum. “They’re showing you Jamie Foxx in a really sharp suit, getting out of a really fancy car, and saying BetMGM is how he’s getting this great wealth and great fortune – and not the fact that Jamie Foxx is a very good actor and was a musician before that.”
Prediction markets provide another avenue for continuous wagering, with contracts tied to sports, elections, weather and other events.
“The prediction market, similar to the mobile sports betting platform, allows for that 24/7 engagement loop. There’s constantly breaking news, there’s constantly events all over the world.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed lawsuits against Coinbase, Gemini and Kalshi. Gov. Kathy Hochul also filed a case against Kalshi in July, alleging it had “chosen to ignore New York’s gaming laws.” Kalshi says it is “a regulated exchange & prediction market where you can trade on the outcome of real-world events.”
Demand For Support Continues To Grow
The Office of Addiction Services and Supports runs the “Take a Pause” campaign, which encourages bettors to consider their spending and wagering habits.
OASAS Associate Commissioner Jerry Gretzinger said visits to its gambling support website increased from about 38,000 in 2022 to 190,000 between January 1 and August 21, 2026.
The agency has also incorporated personal accounts from people who experienced gambling addiction.
“So many times people will be at that point where they’ve lost too much money, they’re spending too much time gambling. They’re straining their family connections, their friendships, and they’re wondering ‘how can I find my way out of this?’ And to see someone who has been where you are, who found a way to turn it around and get back on top of their lives, like they have, I think it’s inspirational,” said Gretzinger.
Research from UCLA and USC found bankruptcies rose 28% and debt-collection amounts increased 8% across 38 states where online sports betting is legal. The study estimated roughly 100,000 additional bankruptcies each year.
Source:
“The Dangers of Problem Gambling in Mobile Sports Betting Apps”, nysba.org, August 21, 2026
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