The New York State Gaming Commission proposed changes to its sports betting rules in the hopes of preventing underage gambling and helping problem gamblers.
The proposals are in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul‘s request to require the use of biometrics when logging into sports betting accounts. She thanked the NYSGC Monday for the proposed changes, which will be available for public comment through May 15.
“Mobile sports wagering is everywhere, enticing everyone — including our youth — to place bets without fully considering the consequences,” Hochul said. “We need strong regulatory safeguards to prevent those under 21 from gambling, keep artificial intelligence from preying on gamblers, and require sports wagering operators take real action if one of their customers is showing signs of gambling harm.
“I’m thankful to the Gaming Commission for putting forth comprehensive measures that achieve these goals and protect New Yorkers. As a reminder: Only legal, regulated gaming have such safeguards in place.”
11 auto triggers for problem gambling
The NYSGC established 11 specific triggers that would require a New York sports betting operator to intervene with the customer under the proposed rules:
- Depositing more than $10,000 in 24 hours.
- Depositing more than $100,000 over three months.
- Three or more trips within 30 days to the self-exclusion page without completing the process.
- Beginning a second cool-off period within 45 days of coming off a cool-off period.
- Increasing gambling limits three times without lowering those limits within a seven-day period.
- Cancelling a withdrawal three times in a 10-day period.
- Betting more than $1 million in three months.
- In-app time increases by 50% or more compared to the prior two weeks.
- Ending a betting session with less than $1 in the account twice or more in one week.
- Ending two or more sessions in a week where the total bets increased each time.
- Depositing funds from more than two sources within 24 hours.
Those triggers, along with anything else the commission may add or that the operator identifies as problematic behavior, would lead to three stages of intervention. First, a customer would be sent information about various responsible gambling features. The second phase requires the bettor to view a video tutorial about responsible gambling.
The third phase would include a meeting between the bettor and the sportsbooks’ responsible gambling lead, something all operators would have to designate under the new rules. The account would be suspended until direct communication happened.
Any bettor still showing signs of problem gambling could have their account closed after the third phase of intervention.
No AI for New York sports betting, casinos
The proposed responsible gambling rules also restricts the use of artificial intelligence to track customers.
Companies, including land-based casinos, horse wagering operators and sportsbooks, would be banned from using AI to send personalized promotions or suggested bets.
The rules do not ban AI for the purpose of tracking betting behavior to monitor for signs of problem gambling.
Biometrics can help prevent underage betting
There are eight measures proposed to help prevent underage sports betting in New York:
- Use age-assurance controls to keep minors from downloading any gambling app.
- Require biometric data to while registering for an account and close any account that refuses to provide biometric data within 60 days of the new rule’s effective date.
- Require biometric confirmation before a bet is placed.
- Use geolocation controls to identify when an account is trying to sign in from a different mobile device than is typically used.
- Prevent simultaneous account access in two or more locations when the “account holder is unlikely to be in both locations.”
- Allow adults to provide their Social Security number to have it banned from being used to start an account.
- Report to the NYSGC the identity of any user that has allowed an underage person to bet with their account.
- Exclude anyone that gave a minor the ability to bet from all gambling activity in the state of New York.
Those rules would be relevant to all sportsbooks, horse racing betting operators and lottery courier services.
