Provides that no advertisement by or on behalf of a mobile sports wagering licensee shall be publicly disseminated during the broadcast of any live sporting event.
Summary
A08925 would amend New York’s racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law to prohibit advertisements for, or on behalf of, mobile sports wagering licensees from being publicly disseminated during the broadcast of any live sporting event. In practical terms, the bill targets sportsbook advertising shown during games, matches, races, and other live sports telecasts, rather than restricting sports wagering itself.
The bill is narrowly drafted and would take effect immediately upon enactment. It adds a new subdivision to section 1363 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, creating a statewide advertising restriction for mobile sports betting operators during live event broadcasts.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would impose a new limitation on the marketing practices of mobile sports wagering licensees in New York, affecting broadcasters, advertisers, and sportsbook operators that purchase or place ads during live sports coverage. It would not change the legality of mobile sports wagering, but it would restrict when promotional messages may appear, likely requiring licensees and media outlets to adjust advertising schedules and inventory around live sporting events. The measure would amend the state’s racing and wagering law by adding a specific advertising prohibition to section 1363.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge legislative sentiment. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a regulatory or consumer-protection approach to sports betting advertising, suggesting concern about the volume or timing of sportsbook ads during live sports broadcasts.
Contention
The main point of contention would likely be between supporters of tighter advertising controls and stakeholders in the sports betting and broadcasting industries. Supporters may view the restriction as a way to reduce ad saturation, protect viewers, and limit the normalization of gambling during live sports. Opponents may argue that the bill interferes with lawful commercial speech, reduces advertising revenue for broadcasters, and places an additional burden on licensed wagering operators without addressing underlying gambling harms.
Relates to wagers on certain horse racing events; authorizes agreements between a mobile sports wagering operator, mobile sports wagering licensee, or operator and an entity that possesses a license and that has the authority to conduct pari-mutuel wagering on the form of racing involved in the relevant horse racing event, involving wagers to be made solely by residents of the state of New York while located within New York, and subject to the approval of the commission.
Prohibits mobile sports wagering operators and mobile sports wagering platforms from allowing more than five deposits from an authorized sports bettor in a twenty-four hour period.
Requires all withdrawal transactions made through a service provided by a mobile sports wagering licensee to be irreversible by the withdrawing consumer, the licensee or another at the consumer's request.
Provides that mobile sports wagering operators and mobile sports wagering platforms are prohibited from limiting the size and frequency of deposits or wagers of authorized sports bettors because the bettor obtains financial benefit or due to the bettor's waging activity; provides exceptions for suspicious wagering activity and indications of a gambling disorder; requires such operators and platforms to provide electronic written notice when an authorized sports bettor is limited or banned.
Establishes certain limits on sports betting for both mobile and casino sports betting to include advertisements and wager limits; prohibits the use of credit cards to make deposits on mobile sports betting.
Requires mobile sports wagering operators to submit anonymized data to the gaming commission; authorizes the gaming commission to share such data for the purposes of studying the impact of mobile sports wagering on problem gambling.