New York sports wagering advertisements are required to include cautionary messages regarding the potential risks of gambling that casinos and other betting sectors must follow in the Empire State.
This week, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) of New York enacted S1550/A1118. The law mandates that all sports betting advertisements must feature a problem gambling hotline and reveal that engaging in sports gambling can lead to addictive behaviors and negative outcomes.
"Protecting New Yorkers from the dangerous and addictive effects of problem gambling and sports betting is vitally important to the prosperity of our great state. I want New Yorkers to be able to safely enjoy the activities they love, and proceed with caution when necessary,” said Hochul.
“I am confident that with the signing of this new bill, New Yorkers will have easier access to the safety resources they need to better protect themselves from the clutches of addiction,” the governor added.
Regulatory Requirement
Prior to Hochul's signing of S1550/A1118, casinos and various gambling establishments in New York were required to feature a problem gambling hotline. The gaming regulations enhance responsible gaming communications by mandating that gambling advertisements feature warning messages similar to those found on tobacco products. The legislation additionally included sportsbooks within the gambling category.
The hotline for problem gambling in New York is 877-8-HOPENY (877-846-7369). Overseen by the state Office of Addiction Supports and Services, individuals in need of assistance can also initiate the process by sending a text with HOPENY or the number 467369.
The regulations for sports betting advertisements do not require mentioning the state’s problem gambling center, only that "a problem gambling hotline number" is provided. Other notable gambling helplines are 1-800-GAMBLER and the National Problem Gambling Helpline, managed by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
New York emerged as the hub for the biggest sports betting market in the nation when its authorized online sportsbooks launched in January 2022. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, which extended from April 2023 to March 2024, sports bettors in New York placed over $19.7 billion in bets, with nearly all of it—except for $90.3 million—being wagered online.
Gamblers incurred losses of roughly $1.77 billion on sports wagers, with oddsmakers indicating a winning percentage of around 9%.
Concerns About Sports Betting
Sports wagering is permitted and active in nearly 40 states and Washington, DC. It can be assumed that every American has encountered a sportsbook advertisement following the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that eliminated a federal prohibition on individual game sports betting.
With the rise of sports betting becoming more mainstream and sportsbooks seeing increases in handle and revenue, many feel that additional consumer protections are necessary to shield the public from problem gambling.
Certain members of Congress and legislators in various state capitals have advocated for tougher rules regarding the advertising practices of sportsbooks. Though initiatives to restrict or prohibit messaging such as “free bets” and “risk-free” have emerged in certain regions, and New York is broadening its gambling marketing regulations, the national trade association advocating for sportsbooks in DC asserts that sufficient responsible gaming protections are already established.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) reports that sports betting advertisements dropped by 15% in the previous year as sports gambling reached its fifth year of legality.
US Representative Paul Tonko (D-New York), who is advocating for federal laws to restrict the timing and manner of sportsbook advertising, aims to ban all sports betting ads from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
"Just as in the tobacco industry when it was determined that that industry was posing a public health situation, we have now displaced Joe Camel with celebrity spokespeople and free product,” Tonko said of sportsbooks advertising deposit bonuses and free wagers.
Tonko and US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) are the backers of the SAFE Bet Act. In addition to prohibiting sports betting advertisements throughout a significant part of the day, the law aims to prevent bookmakers from employing AI to customize incentives and promotions for gamblers.