BILL NUMBER: S10154
SPONSOR: ZELLNER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to prohibiting mobile sports wagering operators from providing
counseling, therapy, and treatment services for bettors in New York
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that individuals seeking counseling, therapy, and treatment
for problem gambling through mobile sports wagering websites and plat-
forms are directed exclusively to the New York State Office of Addiction
Services and Supports (OASAS) for help.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subparagraphs (xiv) and (xv) of paragraph
(a) of subdivision 4 of section 1367-a of the racing, pari-mutuel wager-
ing and breeding law to require mobile sports operators to direct indi-
viduals seeking counseling, therapy, and treatment services for problem
gambling exclusively to the problem gambling webpage maintained by the
OASAS.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Problem gambling is a growing public health concern in New York, partic-
ularly with the rapid expansion of mobile sports wagering. OASAS was
established as the designated state agency for addiction services,
including services for problem gambling. It oversees one of the nation's
largest addiction services systems with more than 1,700 prevention,
treatment, and recovery programs for New York residents. OASAS makes a
variety of community resources available for those affected by gambling
harms, including treatment and recovery supports. Crucially, OASAS
administers the credentialing for problem gambling counselors,
prevention practitioners, and prevention specialists, and all services
are available regardless of ability to pay.
Current law requires mobile sports operators to provide links to and
contact information for OASAS on their websites and platforms, but also
allows operators to advertise, promote, and make referrals for coun-
seling services for practitioners that are not credentialed by OASAS,
are not located in New York, and are not free of cost. It also allows
mobile sports operators to advertise and promote organizations and enti-
ties that provide counseling and therapy services that the mobile sports
operators may have a financial relationship with. This presents a poten-
tial conflict between the mobile sports operator's interest in generat-
ing revenue by the number of bets placed and lost versus an individual's
need for help to limit or stop gambling. It also means that an individ-
ual seeking help may not be connected with services located in their
community or with providers credentialed by OASAS. This legislation
addresses that conflict, and ensures that individuals seeking coun-
seling, therapy and treatment services will receive help, regardless of
ability to pay, through the state's official system of addiction care,
OASAS.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.