As sports betting continues to expand across the U.S., New York lawmakers are intensifying efforts to curb the risks of problem gambling, drawing lessons from neighboring states while advancing new legislation to regulate how operators provide support to bettors.
Lawmakers Weigh New Safeguards
During a recent State Assembly hearing, New York Gaming Commission Executive Director Robert Williams highlighted that officials are studying New Jersey’s latest initiatives on responsible gambling. The Garden State is proposing a rule requiring licensed operators to actively monitor and intervene when customers show signs of risky behavior.
“All stakeholders — the patron, the operator, the regulator, the service provider, and the community — play a role in reducing gambling harms and protecting New Yorkers,” Williams told legislators. He added that while the commission is ready to assist in prevention efforts, it is not equipped to offer treatment for individuals affected by gambling addiction.
Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, chair of the Assembly Committee on Racing and Wagering, emphasized that the state must ensure its current framework adequately addresses the social costs of legalized wagering. “The state has a responsibility to determine if it is doing enough to regulate an activity that can cause addiction and harm to New Yorkers,”she said.
New Bill to Restrict Sportsbook-Run Treatment Services
Woerner has also introduced Assembly Bill 9146, aimed at tightening control over how online sportsbooks provide assistance to those seeking help. The measure, filed on October 17, would prohibit operators from offering or promoting counseling, therapy, or treatment for gambling addiction through any channel other than the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).
According to the bill, “The mobile sports wagering operator shall not advertise or promote any other organization or entity that provides counseling, therapy or treatment services for compulsive play.”
OASAS — the state’s designated agency for addiction services — oversees more than 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs across New York. It has certified 51 outpatient providers and over 100 private practitioners to deliver treatment.
“We know from the statistics that in New York, more people are seeking help for problem gambling,”Woerner said, noting that the state currently lacks visibility into how many individuals seek support through sportsbook platforms.
Industry Tools Remain, but Oversight Tightens
While the new legislation would limit sportsbooks’ involvement in treatment services, it would not affect existing in-app responsible gaming tools such as deposit limits, time restrictions, and self-exclusion features. Operators including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM have rolled out digital tools to promote safer betting, including FanDuel’s Real-Time Check-In and DraftKings’ My Budget Builder feature.
Woerner’s broader policy agenda also includes potential measures such as affordability checks, advertising restrictions, and bans on credit card payments for wagering. She said the committee plans to introduce a package of bills early next year, reflecting testimony from industry and public health experts.
Meanwhile, Senator Joe Addabbo has filed complementary legislation in the Senate, including a bill that would mandate insurance coverage for problem gambling treatment services.
With New York now home to the largest online betting market in the U.S., state leaders appear determined to strengthen safeguards before the problem deepens.
Source:
“NY officials seek to address the risk of problem gambling”, wskg.org, November 4, 2025
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