NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5537

Senate Bill S5537

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Prohibits mobile sports wagering operators and platforms from sending push notifications or text message notifications

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Racing, Gaming And Wagering Committee

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

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 24, 2025	referred to racing, gaming and wagering

2025-S5537 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4279
Current Committee:: Senate Racing, Gaming And Wagering
Law Section:: Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1367-a, RWB L

2025-S5537 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits mobile sports wagering operators and platforms from sending push notifications or text message notifications.

2025-S5537 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5537

SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

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

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To limit gambling addiction and protect consumer choice by banning push-
ing notifications for online sports wagering apps.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one: Provides the short title of the bill.

Section two: Provides the legislative intent of the bill.

Section three: Prohibits the sending of pushing notifications by mobile
betting applications.

Section four: Provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

While the legalization of online gambling has had all kinds of benefits
in New York State, it's high time for some basic, common sense, steps to
limit addiction. People should be free to place wagers as they see fit,
but should not be overly tempted into doing so.  The rates of gambling
addiction in New York are skyrocketing, in part due to a flood of
notifications bettors receive from mobile betting websites and applica-
tions. Constant alerts discourage responsible gaming practices, and if
we don't act the problem will only get worse. With Al enhancing the
ability of gaming companies to collect data and specifically target
consumers, addictions will only get worse as time goes on. Far from
limiting individual freedom, this bill would limit temptation and allow
more people to make responsible, informed decisions about what their
gaming habits should be.

As with many gambling enterprises, a disproportionate amount of revenue
collected by online gambling apps come from a small number of addicted
"problem gamblers." The effects of gambling addiction are well docu-
mented, with irresponsible gaming habits frequently leading to ruined
lives or early graves. Constant reminders of gambling opportunities
through push notifications are one of the key ways betting apps ensure
they have a large number of addicted customers and maximize their
profit.

This irresponsible practice needs to be curbed.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S5537 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     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.

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