BILL NUMBER: S7482C
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to designating an individual who has been convicted of certain
crimes against athletes, coaches, officials, or participants in sports
events or horse races, or of certain offenses involving sports contests,
horse races, or wagering thereon, as a prohibited sports bettor
 
PURPOSE:
To prohibit individuals who commit certain crimes, harassment, threats,
stalking, intimidation, or other qualifying offenses against athletes,
coaches, officials, or participants of sporting events or horse races in
connection with sports wagering from placing sports wagers in New York
State.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends paragraph (r) of subdivision 1 of section
1367 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law to expand the
definition of a prohibited sports bettor. The bill designates as prohib-
ited sports bettors individuals convicted of certain qualifying criminal
offenses, or individuals subject to qualifying final orders of
protection, where the conduct was directed at athletes, coaches, offi-
cials, or participants of sporting events or horse races and arose from
or related to sports wagering, pari-mutuel wagering, or wagering on
horse races. The bill establishes that qualifying offenses may include
harassment, stalking, assault, intimidation, coercion, criminal
mischief, threats, extortion, sports bribery, tampering with sporting
contests, and other related offenses. The bill also clarifies that
constitutionally protected speech, criticism, commentary, or general fan
expression alone may not serve as the basis for designation as a prohib-
ited sports bettor.
Section 2 of the bill adds new subdivisions 17 and 18 to section 1367 of
the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law to require the Gaming
Commission to establish regulations and prohibition periods based on the
severity of qualifying offenses. The bill creates tiered prohibition
periods ranging from one year to ten years depending on the underlying
offense and establishes procedures regarding appeals, implementation,
reporting requirements, and the sharing of information between the
Gaming Commission, courts, and relevant entities involved in sports and
horse race wagering.
Section 3 of the bill amends section 1012 of the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law to prohibit account wagering licensees from
allowing designated prohibited sports bettors to establish or maintain
wagering accounts or place wagers on horse races.
Section 4 establishes an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, sports betting has grown rapidly across the United
States following the expansion of legalized sports wagering. While this
growth has generated significant economic activity, it has also led to a
sharp increase in harassment, threats, and abusive conduct directed at
athletes, coaches, officials, and other participants in sporting events
by individuals connected to sports wagering. Reports from the NCAA and
other organizations have documented widespread abuse directed at
student-athletes and sports officials, particularly through social media
and electronic communications. Athletes have reported receiving threats,
intimidation, racist remarks, sexually abusive messages, stalking, and
harassment from individuals upset over betting outcomes. According to
data released during recent NCAA tournaments, thousands of abusive
messages were directed at athletes and participants, many of which
referenced gambling activity or betting losses.
This conduct creates serious concerns for the safety, mental health, and
well-being of athletes and sports participants. The growing accessibil-
ity of online sports wagering has increased opportunities for individ-
uals to target players, coaches, and officials directly following sport-
ing events.
This legislation establishes consequences for individuals who engage in
criminal conduct connected to sports wagering by prohibiting them from
participating in legal sports betting activities in New York State. The
bill creates a clear regulatory framework allowing the Gaming Commission
to designate certain individuals as prohibited sports bettors following
qualifying convictions or qualifying orders of protection. The legis-
lation also establishes standardized prohibition periods while preserv-
ing due process protections and ensuring that constitutionally protected
speech is not impacted.
By creating additional safeguards against harassment and intimidation
connected to sports wagering, this bill helps protect the integrity of
sporting events and supports the safety and well-being of athletes,
coaches, officials, and participants.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately,
the state gaming commission, the chief administrator of the courts, and
the division of criminal justice services are authorized to promulgate
any rules and regulations and take any other actions necessary to imple-
ment the provisions of this act on or before such effective date.