Requires all advertisements for gambling and sports betting to include warnings about potential harmful and addictive effects of gambling; requires the state gaming commission to cooperate with the commissioner of addiction services and supports to ensure that all advertisements for gaming activity state a problem gambling hotline number.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1118
SPONSOR: Vanel
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to requiring all advertisements for gambling and sports betting
to include warnings about potential harmful and addictive effects of
gambling and to requiring the state gaming commission to cooperate with
the commissioner of addiction services and supports to ensure that all
advertisements for gaming activity state a problem gambling hotline
number
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires all advertisements for gambling and sports betting to include
warnings about potential harmful and addictive effects of gambling.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
(a) The commission shall cooperate with the commissioner addiction
services and supports to ensure the posting of signs and listing of
information on the internet designed to assist compulsive gamblers
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (h) of section 19.09 of the
mental hygiene law.
(b) The commission shall cooperate with the commissioner of addiction
services and supports to ensure that all advertisements for gaming
activity clearly and conspicuously state a problem gambling hotline
number.
(c) The commission shall make available on its website information and
technical support which includes, but is not limited to, guidelines for
any association, corporations licensed or enfranchised pursuant to this
chapter on advertising restrictions.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State residents have access to wagering at multiple casinos,
racetracks, the lottery, and other venues and means. Gambling will be
even more accessible. In New York State, gambling can be found every-
where from physical casinos to a multitude of online websites and apps.
The advent of the internet As gambling becomes more easily accessed by
more people, the number of lives negatively affected by gambling has
also increased. This can lead to serious consequences for both the
gambler and their family.The Wagering Industry has invested substantial
amounts in advertising. Yet, New York State invest.merely 1 million
dollars a. year Per public service announcements regarding problem
gambling. The National Council on Problem Gambling defines problem
gambling as, (G)ambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major
area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational." This may
include pathological and compulsive gambling, which is a form of
addiction that grows worse as time progresses. Statistics reports that
"approximately 2.696 of the U.S. population has some type of gambling
issue. That adds up to nearly 10 million people in the United States who
struggle with a gambling habit." (National Council on Problem Gambling)
In the unprecedented growth of gambling, where it is easy to place bets
with PayPal, credit cards, bitcoin, or money-transfer apps; it is also
important as a state to be proactive in identifying and preventing
potential problems of gambling. If signed into law, this bill would
require industries to include warnings about potential harmful and
addictive effects of gambling.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Passed Assembly, January 26, 2022.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Not applicable.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1118
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to requiring all advertisements for gambling and sports
betting to include warnings about potential harmful and addictive
effects of gambling and to requiring the state gaming commission to
cooperate with the commissioner of addiction services and supports to
ensure that all advertisements for gaming activity state a problem
gambling hotline number
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1363 of the
2 racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by chapter 174
3 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
4 (a) "advertisement" shall mean any notice or communication to the
5 public or any information concerning the gaming-related business of a
6 gaming facility licensee or applicant or a mobile sports wagering licen-
7 see as defined in section thirteen hundred sixty-seven of this article
8 through broadcasting, publication or any other means of dissemination,
9 including electronic dissemination. Promotional activities are consid-
10 ered advertisements for purposes of this section.
11 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 111 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering
12 and breeding law, as amended by chapter 564 of the laws of 2021, is
13 amended to read as follows:
14 1. (a) The commission shall cooperate with the commissioner of
15 addiction services and supports to ensure the posting of signs and list-
16 ing of information on the internet designed to assist compulsive
17 gamblers pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (h) of section 19.09
18 of the mental hygiene law. Such postings shall include information
19 explaining how an individual may add his or her name to the list of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03565-01-3
A. 1118 2
1 self-excluded persons. Signs shall be posted at a reasonable distance
2 from each entrance, exit and automated teller machine in the facility.
3 (b) The commission shall cooperate with the commissioner of addiction
4 services and supports to ensure that all advertisements for gaming
5 activity clearly and conspicuously state a problem gambling hotline
6 number.
7 (c) The commission shall make available on its website information and
8 technical support which includes, but is not limited to, guidelines for
9 any association, corporations licensed or enfranchised pursuant to this
10 chapter on advertising restrictions.
11 § 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
12 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
13 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
14 of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
15 completed on or before such effective date.