New York Sees Sports Betting, Problem Gambling Rise in 2026

The Office of the New York Comptroller released its gaming revenue report for fiscal year 2026, which included both good and bad news.

The good news is that the state saw $1.3 billion in tax revenue from mobile sports betting. This shows continued growth from FY 2023, when it totaled $727.4 million. This makes mobile betting the state's second-largest source of gaming tax revenue, trailing only the lottery.

While the numbers are strong, the average amount wagered per account dropped significantly in 2025. New York bettors averaged $3,500 in wagers per account for the year, which was down from $4,329 in 2024. 

Unfortunately, the state’s HOPEline has seen an 8.5% increase in traffic since 2020. The biggest spike came in 2022, when New York’s online sports betting market officially launched.

The report also shared a spike in underage betting. In 2023, the state only reported 54 alleged instances of underage participation in sports betting. However, that number jumped to 1,972 in 2025. 

According to the Comptroller, the spike is the result of underage residents getting hold of the devices of bettors with legal accounts.

A Call to Action for Lawmakers, Regulators

In a press release, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli acknowledged the success and highlighted the doubling in funding for problem gambling resources. 

However, he also urged lawmakers and regulators to do more to curb the issue, which continues to grow alongside sports betting. 

“While the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York has boosted state revenues, the rise in problem gambling, particularly among young people, is a major concern,” DiNapoli shared in the release. “The rapid proliferation of the prediction markets, which generate significant revenue based on sports activities, only makes it easier to get hooked on these online platforms. I was encouraged by the state’s decision to double funding for problem gambling services from $6 million to $12 million, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions being wagered. We need to do much more to identify how mobile sports betting is impacting New Yorkers and ensure consumers are protected.”