NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5935

Current Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 20, 2025	advanced to third reading
Mar 19, 2025	2nd report cal.
Mar 18, 2025	1st report cal.567
Mar 04, 2025	referred to racing, gaming and wagering

Votes

- Mar 18, 2025 - Racing, Gaming And Wagering Committee Vote
  S5935
  
  6
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Racing, Gaming And Wagering Committee Vote: Mar 18, 2025
      
      aye (6)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Comrie
      
      Fahy
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Stavisky
      
      Tedisco
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Helming

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6745
Law Section:: Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law
Laws Affected:: Add §912, RWB L

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits online sweepstakes games and revenue from illegal markets; sets penalties; provides for enforcement of provisions.

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5935

SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to prohibiting online sweepstakes games and revenue from ille-
gal markets

 
PURPOSE:

To prohibit certain persons from operating, conducting, or promoting
certain online sweepstakes games or supporting the operation, conduct,
or promotion of such games. The bill also grants authority to the New
York State Gaming Commission and the Attorney General to enforce penal-
ties against violators.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 - Establishes the legislative purpose to prohibit online
sweepstakes games and related revenue sources from illegal markets.  It
mandates enforcement by the New York State Gaming Commission and/or the

Attorney General.

Section 2 - Amends the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law by
adding a new section 912, which:

*Defines "online sweepstakes game" and specifies the types of games
covered under this prohibition.

*Prohibits the operation, conduct, or promotion of online sweepstakes
games by any applicant, licensed entity, gaming employee, or other
related individuals or entities.

*Prohibits financial institutions, payment processors, geolocation
providers, gaming content suppliers, platform providers, or media affil-
iates from supporting such games.

*Establishes penalties, including finesranging from $10,000 to $100,000
per violation and potential loss of a gaming license.

*Grants enforcement authority to the State Gaming Commission, State
Police, and Attorney General's office.

Section 3 - Provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation clarifies thatonlinerealmoney "sweepstakes casinos"
constitutes illegal gambling and establishes penalties for operating or
facilitating unregulated online gambling.

Online real money "sweepstakes casinos" have recently become widely
available in New York over the internet on mobile devices and personal
computers, including to minors. These products evade consumer
protection, responsible gaming, and anti-money laundering requirements
to which gambling in New York is otherwisesubject.These
productsandoperationsareuntaxed and unregulated. They present unfair

competition to the state's legal, highly regulated and economically
important casinos.

The legislation will provide a powerful deterrent to offshore and domes-
tic illegal online gaming operators from entering the state and/or to
withdraw from the state and will provide robust tools to the Gaming
Commission and the Attorney's General Office to enforce the law.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

N/A

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

There is no fiscal impact on the State or local governments.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect in the following fiscal year.

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5935
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- 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 online  sweepstakes  games  and  revenue  from
   illegal markets

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative purpose. It is the purpose of this  legislation
 to  prohibit  certain  persons  from operating, conducting, or promoting
 certain online sweepstakes games or supporting the  operation,  conduct-
 ing,  or promotion of certain online sweepstakes games. This legislation
 requires the New York state gaming commission and/or the New York  state
 attorney  general  to  deny a person from commencing or continuing oper-
 ations if such person or an affiliate of such person  knowingly  accepts
 revenue  that  is directly or indirectly derived from online sweepstakes
 games, and enforce penalties on behalf of  any  findings  of  prohibited
 engagement.
   §  2.  The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
 adding a new section 912 to read as follows:
   § 912. PROHIBITION OF ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES GAMES AND REVENUE FROM  ILLE-
 GAL  MARKETS.  1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ONLINE
 SWEEPSTAKES GAME" SHALL MEAN ANY GAME, CONTEST,  OR  PROMOTION  THAT  IS
 AVAILABLE  ON THE INTERNET AND/OR ACCESSIBLE ON A MOBILE PHONE, COMPUTER
 TERMINAL, OR SIMILAR ACCESS DEVICE, THAT UTILIZES A DUAL-CURRENCY SYSTEM
 OF PAYMENT ALLOWING THE PLAYER TO EXCHANGE THE CURRENCY FOR  ANY  PRIZE,
 AWARD,  CASH OR CASH EQUIVALENTS, OR ANY CHANCE TO WIN ANY PRICE, AWARD,
 CASH OR CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND SIMULATES CASINO-STYLE  GAMING,  INCLUDING
 BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO, SLOT MACHINES, VIDEO POKER, TABLE GAMES INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO BLACKJACK, ROULETTE, CRAPS, AND POKER, LOTTERY  GAMES
 INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO DRAW GAMES, INSTANT WIN GAMES, KENO, AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10101-01-5

 S. 5935                             2
 
 BINGO, AND SPORTS WAGERING. A SWEEPSTAKES GAME SHALL NOT INCLUDE A  GAME
 WHICH DOES NOT AWARD CASH PRIZES OR CASH EQUIVALENTS.
   2.  PROHIBITION.  (A) IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY APPLICANT, LICENSED
 ENTITY, GAMING EMPLOYEE, KEY EMPLOYEE, INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR OR INVESTMENT
 FIRM, BOARD MEMBER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY TO  OPERATE,  CONDUCT,
 OR PROMOTE SWEEPSTAKES GAMES WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
   (B) IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY APPLICANT, LICENSED ENTITY, FINANCIAL
 INSTITUTION,  PAYMENT  PROCESSOR,  GEOLOCATION  PROVIDER, GAMING CONTENT
 SUPPLIER, PLATFORM PROVIDER, OR MEDIA AFFILIATE TO  SUPPORT  THE  OPERA-
 TION, CONDUCT, OR PROMOTION OF SWEEPSTAKES GAMES WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW
 YORK.
   3.  PENALTIES.  ANY  APPLICANT,  LICENSED ENTITY, GAMING EMPLOYEE, KEY
 EMPLOYEE, INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR OR INVESTMENT FIRM, BOARD MEMBER,  OR  ANY
 OTHER  PERSON  OR  ENTITY  FOUND  IN  VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE
 SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND  DOLLARS  AND  NOT  MORE
 THAN  ONE  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  FOR  EACH  VIOLATION AND SHALL BE
 SUBJECT TO THE LOSS OF A GAMING  LICENSE  AND/OR  BE  INELIGIBLE  FOR  A
 GAMING LICENSE.
   4.  ENFORCEMENT. (A) THE STATE GAMING COMMISSION, THE STATE POLICE, OR
 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY  TO  ENFORCE  THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   (B) THE STATE GAMING COMMISSION MAY CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS, HOLD HEAR-
 INGS,  ISSUE  CEASE  AND  DESIST  LETTERS, AND ISSUE SUBPOENAS TO ENSURE
 COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

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Beth_Estergomy

5 days ago

Allow people their freedoms, and put time and energy into more important government tasks. Dictating to New Yorkers what games they can play on their phones is an abuse of power and is an insult to New Yorkers freedoms. People have to pay taxes on any winnings and can benefit the state.

Landers_Sanchez

1 day ago

This bill is blatantly sponsored by the casino industry that wishes to further corner a market where they cannot compete because they offer worse experiences to the consumer. Sweeps casinos provide the consumer with ways to play 100% for free if they wish, while regular casinos just want to take all your money. I think it is worth noting that the senator who proposed this bill received a donation of $51k from the Saratoga Casino Hotel, a clear conflict of interest when it comes to deciding if their competition should be banned from operating in the state. This bill strips NY residents of the right to decide where to get their entertainment from and should not be voted through.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S5935

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

Mar 18, 2025 - Racing, Gaming And Wagering Committee Vote

Racing, Gaming And Wagering Committee Vote: Mar 18, 2025

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S5935

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Sponsored By

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Current Bill Status - On Floor Calendar

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S5935 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments