S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5537
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 24, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. GONZALEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wager-
ing
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to prohibiting mobile sports wagering operators and platforms
from sending push notifications or text message notifications
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "regulating
addictive notifications act".
§ 2. Legislative intent. To address public health concerns involving
gambling addiction arising from the legalization of mobile sports
betting in New York, this legislation prevents New Yorkers from receiv-
ing push notifications that solicit wagers and deposits for wagers.
Research has shown that mobile sports betting increases the likelihood
of risky betting behavior, problem gambling, and addiction, driven by
the accessibility, privacy, and ease of use offered by mobile devices.
Mobile devices enable constant engagement with betting applications by
reducing barriers to responsible gambling and allowing users to instant-
ly act on gambling urges anytime and anywhere in the state. The risk is
greatest among young people, who typically spend more time on mobile
devices, and vulnerable populations.
Push notifications soliciting wagers and deposits may appear even when
mobile sports betting applications are closed. Such solicitation is more
invasive than traditional advertising and can exploit moments of vulner-
ability or weakness, undermining the ability of New Yorkers to gamble
deliberately and responsibly. Opting New Yorkers out of such unsolicited
gambling push notifications and solicitation is crucial to mitigate
harmful effects of risky betting, problem gambling, and addiction, which
can result in financial and occupational ruin, mental and emotional
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08412-04-5
S. 5537 2
illness, the destruction of families, domestic violence, self-harm, and
suicide.
§ 3. Subdivision 4 of section 1367-a of the racing, pari-mutuel wager-
ing and breeding law is amended by adding a new paragraph (k) to read as
follows:
(K) MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING OPERATORS AND MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING PLAT-
FORMS SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM INITIATING OR SENDING MOBILE DEVICE PUSH
NOTIFICATIONS OR TEXT MESSAGE NOTIFICATIONS, INCLUDING ALERTS, RELATING
TO THE SOLICITATION OF SPORTS WAGERS OR DEPOSITS FROM A MOBILE SPORTS
WAGERING OPERATOR'S PLATFORM ON WHICH AN AUTHORIZED SPORTS BETTOR MAY
PLACE A SPORTS WAGER. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TERM
"PUSH NOTIFICATION" MEANS AN AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON
AN ACCOUNT HOLDER'S DEVICE, WHEN THE USER INTERFACE FOR THE MOBILE
SPORTS WAGERING OPERATOR'S PLATFORM IS NOT ACTIVELY OPEN OR VISIBLE ON
THE DEVICE, THAT PROMPTS THE ACCOUNT HOLDER TO CHECK OR ENGAGE WITH SUCH
PLATFORM.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.