New York Regulator Shares Proposal to Fight Problem Gambling

The Empire State is considering major changes to its sports betting market.

The New York State Gaming Commission has released some proposals aimed at curbing problem gambling. The move comes after a request from Governor Kathy Hochul, who is looking for ways to better protect residents, including underage bettors.

“Mobile sports wagering is everywhere, enticing everyone — including our youth — to place bets without fully considering the consequences,” Hochul shared during her 2026 State of the State address. “We need strong regulatory safeguards to prevent those under 21 from gambling, keep artificial intelligence from preying on gamblers, and require sports wagering operators to take real action if one of their customers is showing signs of gambling harm.

One of the biggest changes proposed by the NYSGC is requiring sportsbooks to add biometrics for all mobile access. This idea, proposed by Hochul, would make it harder for underage residents to wager on someone else’s mobile device. 

Some sportsbooks already use biometrics, but others have a two-step authentication process. This sends a code to the account holder’s phone or email when the account holder logs in. However, this system offers little protection when a customer’s phone is stolen or misused. 

The regulator’s proposals for New York’s sports betting market will be available for public comment through May 15. 

11 Problem Gambling Auto-Triggers Proposed

Another key change proposed by the NYSGC is a new set of regulations on when sportsbooks must intervene in problem gambling.

The proposal would create the following 11 auto-triggers that would require operators to reach out to customers:

1. Depositing $10,000+ in 24 hours

2. Depositing $100,000+ over three months

3. 3+ visits to the self-exclusion page without completing the registration

4. Two cool-off periods within a 45-day window

5. Three consecutive increases in gambling limits in one week

6. 3+ cancelled withdrawals in ten days

7. Wagering $1 million or more within three months

8. An in-app increase of 50% compared to the previous two weeks

9. Ending a betting session with less than $1 2+ times in a week

10. Increase in total bets placed in 2+ sessions per week

11. Deposits from 3+ sources within 24 hours