New York Assemblyman Clyde Vanel helped create a bill requiring gambling ads to warn customers of potential that the state senate passed unanimously. (Image: Ron Adar/Sipa US)

The New York Senate unanimously passed a bill designed to ensure improved marketing practices in the state’s gaming industry on Thursday, paving way for the bill to potentially be signed into law during the current legislative session.

The legislation, identical to Assembly Bill 1118, passed by a 57-0 vote. 

Bill Requires More Warnings, Numbers, Signs for Gamblers

The bill, which was introduced by Assemblyman Clyde Vanel (D-Cambria Heights), was substituted for Senate Bill 1550 and then returned to the Assembly. If the Assembly can move the bill before the current legislative session ends on June 6, it would then await Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.

State Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens) introduced the Senate version of the bill.

The legislation would require all advertisements for gambling to include warnings about the potential harmful effects of gambling. It would also require that all advertisements for casinos, sports betting, and other forms of gaming include a problem gambling hotline number. It also amends parimutuel wagering and racing law to require signage that explains how individuals can add their names to self-exclusion lists.

The legislation would go into effect 60 days after the governor signs it into law.

Bill Prompted by Gambling Proliferation 

When first sponsoring the bill in January, Sen. Comrie opined that these steps were necessary as a reaction to the proliferation of gambling in New York.

“In New York State, gambling can be found everywhere from physical casinos to a multitude of online websites and apps,” Comrie wrote in a note on the legislation. “As gambling becomes more easily accessed by more people, the number of lives negatively affected by gambling has also increased. In the unprecedented growth of gambling, where it is easy to place bets with PayPal, credit cards, bitcoin, or money-transfer apps, it is also important as a state to be proactive identifying and preventing potential problems of gambling.”

Online sports betting has become big business in New York. The New York State Gaming Commission issues revenue reports on a weekly basis for mobile sports wagering. The week ending May 12 was the most profitable ever for internet sportsbooks in the state, as they generated over $70.9 million in gross gaming revenue in just seven days. FanDuel and DraftKings have generated more than $1 billion each since legalized online sports betting launched in New York on January 8, 2022.

The attention to gambling advertising comes as New York continues to expand its gaming industry. The New York State Gaming Commission expects to issue three downstate casino licenses in late 2025, each of which will come with a $500 million upfront fee for the winners. Those casinos will join four upstate commercial casinos, not to mention an active racing industry, racinos, and Native American casinos in the state.