- New York legislators are considering major restrictions on sports betting products available to state residents.
- The proposals target specific bet types linked to athlete harassment and integrity concerns with substantial operator penalties.
- Related proposals include betting limits and user safeguards as lawmakers assess possible changes to market regulations.
ALBANY, N.Y. – Legislators in the state are pushing forward with a bill that might reshape the entire sports betting scene in New York, after Assembly Member Carrie Woerner filed legislation to strip player props and live betting from every licensed operator.
AB 9636 seeks to limit all wagers to the final outcome, score, or winner of sporting events. The law defines proposition bets broadly, include betting on player performance, referee decisions, penalties, injuries, and game timing. Under these rules, betting options like player touchdown props, individual athlete point totals, and all in-game wagering would be banned.
The bill imposes severe financial penalties on operators who violate these regulations. A fine of up to $100,000 and the possibility of license suspension or revocation would follow each and every wager made or accepted in violation of the proposed legislation. These fines might add up very quickly for noncompliant platforms, given the volume of bets that are made during major events.
What’s Pushing This Forward
The effort to limit certain types of bets is motivated by worries about athlete harassment and issues with game integrity. College athletes are reportedly being harassed more on social media after betting-related events. Legislators contend that live betting and player props cause instantaneous reactions that intensify bettors’ emotional responses, frequently leading to targeted abuse when individual performances fall short of betting expectations.
Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed support for laws that shield student-athletes from pressure related to betting and restrict the amount of potentially addictive gambling options available to young people. Instead of entirely banning legal sports betting, this approach focuses on resolving issues at the product level in an effort to manage problematic betting formats while maintaining the operation of the larger legal market.
Woerner has introduced multiple related bills during this legislative session, including measures that would enhance identification verification procedures, increase the minimum age to participate in VIP programs to 25, and mandate automatic betting limits. A separate proposal would grant gaming regulators authority to issue permanent betting bans on New York sportsbooks for individuals who harass athletes.
The legislation sits in the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee right now without any scheduled hearing date. Industry groups will likely fight back hard against these measures since player props and live betting rank among the most popular options for customers. How this plays out stays unclear as lawmakers try balancing athlete safety concerns with keeping markets accessible and giving consumers choices.
