Allows the legislature to authorize pool-selling without profit.
Summary
This bill is a proposed amendment to the New York State Constitution that would add an exception to the state’s general ban on gambling-related activities. Specifically, it would allow the Legislature to authorize “pool-selling without the taking of any profit by the pool-seller,” if it chooses to do so. The measure does not itself legalize pool-selling; instead, it creates constitutional authority for future legislation to permit it under terms set by the Legislature.
The proposal would modify Article 1, Section 9, which currently prohibits lotteries, pool-selling, book-making, and other gambling except for certain state-authorized activities such as state lotteries, pari-mutuel betting on horse races, and casino gambling at up to seven facilities. If adopted, the amendment would expand the list of constitutionally permitted exceptions to include non-profit pool-selling, while leaving the Legislature responsible for defining the rules and enforcement framework.
Impact
If approved by voters and then enacted through the constitutional amendment process, this proposal would change New York’s constitutional gambling restrictions by giving the Legislature explicit authority to authorize pool-selling so long as the pool-seller takes no profit. The practical effect would be to open the door for future statutory regulation of non-profit pool-selling, while not changing existing law on its own. It would affect the state constitution, gambling regulation, and any parties that might seek to operate or participate in pool-selling arrangements under legislative authorization.
Sentiment
There is limited recorded discussion or voting history available for this bill, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from committee debate or floor votes. Based on the bill’s introduction and caption, the measure appears to be a targeted expansion of gambling authority rather than a broad overhaul, and the absence of recorded opposition or support in the provided materials suggests the bill has not yet generated a documented public legislative debate in the available record.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether New York should further relax its constitutional gambling restrictions, even in a limited form. Supporters would likely view the measure as a narrow, controlled authorization for non-profit pool-selling, while opponents may object to any additional gambling-related exception in the constitution or question how “without profit” would be defined and enforced. Because the bill is only a proposed constitutional amendment, another likely issue is whether the Legislature should be given this additional discretionary authority at all, as opposed to leaving the current prohibition in place.