New York Agrees to Constraint Sports Betting Ads

This week, the New York State Gaming Commission held an important meeting, during which it unanimously voted to impose stricter regulation on sports betting advertising. The new rules will attempt to regulate sports wagering advertising, marketing, and promotion, amidst concerns regarding advertising and marketing of sports wagers to college and university campuses.

Last year, the Empire State introduced its mobile sports betting market which allows New Yorkers to place bets on sporting events from basically everywhere. However, the increase in accessibility and popularity of such offerings raised some alarms across the state. This also led to a barrage of sports betting ads across TV channels, sports games, social media and more.

Package of Rules

In its meeting, the regulator approved a package of rules to support responsible play in the Empire State and protect its local gamblers. Chair of NYSGC, Brian O’Dwyer commented that for its first year, the mobile sports betting market has been a success, as demonstrated by the generated tax revenue. However, he said the regulator is aware that it could lead to problem gambling.

One of the objectives of the new set of rules is to limit the exposure of sports betting commercials and marketing to underage bettors. An underage player is considered someone younger the 21. Michelle Hadden, assistant executive director of the New York Council on Problem Gambling, said that the notion is to ban online methods of attracting underage residents.

In February, the New York Council on Problem Gambling reported that more and more young adults have sought help from the organization regarding their problem gambling habits. The organization stated that there has been an increase in the number of 18- to 24-year-olds in the state who have reported problem gambling since the launch of the new mobile market.

New York’s new regulations will now ban sports betting ads on college and university campuses. However, that is not all as a prohibition of false, deceptive or misleading statements has also been approved. Once new protocols come into effect, promotions will be required to clearly and conspicuously disclose material facts, terms and conditions to potential customers.

In addition to that, the commission’s new rules require an opt-out functionality to block receipt of future direct advertisements. However, in order for the new protocols to come into power, they must first go through a 60-day public comment period. During that time, locals will have a chance to have a say in the matter, before the regulator officially enacts them.

Past Efforts

This is not the only effort to crack down on sports betting ads in the Empire State. In January democrats Luis R. Sepúlveda and Leroy Comrie presented legislation, which if passed would require gambling ads in the state to feature warnings. Furthermore, Bill S1550 would mandate those ads come with the New York problem gambling hotline number 1-877-8-HOPENY.

Source: Boecker, Matt “Regulators Tighten Up Regulations Surrounding NY Sports Betting Ads” PlayNY, March 2, 2023