It’s been more than three months since New York Sen. Joe Addabbo’s proposed ban on online sweepstakes gaming was approved by the Empire State legislature. It’s a signature from Gov. Kathy Hochul away from becoming law. But is that signature coming?
Addabbo’s S5935 swept through the Senate this spring, was overwhelmingly approved in a 57-2 floor vote on June 12 and got the green light in the Assembly days later. Since then, it has been lying dormant, awaiting Hochul’s final verdict.
In the three months since it passed the legislature, big things have happened in the sweeps space in other parts of the U.S., ranging from various cease-and-desist orders to lawsuits to the golden land of California passing a ban in September. Meanwhile, next door, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law the Garden State’s own sweeps ban in mid-August, following Montana and Connecticut in doing so.
Addabbo hoped that Murphy’s approval would provide impetus for Hochul to put pen to paper, but his approved legislation remains unsigned.
“We are waiting for the governor to sign it,” Addabbo told SBC Americas in an interview by phone. “When the New Jersey governor signed their version of the sweepstakes ban, I sent that article to my contact in the governor’s office, saying, ‘Hey, just saying, Jersey’s governor signed it.’ You know? ‘How about it?’ But we’re waiting.”
An opportunity to protect New Yorkers, says senator
Hochul has until the end of the year to sign. Responding to an inquiry made to Hochul’s office, a spokesperson from the New York State Executive Chamber told SBC Americas that Hochul will review the bill.
Addabbo’s legislation outlaws dual-currency games that simulate casino-style, lottery-style or sports betting-style products and offer cash or other prizes of value. As in some other states like California, it would criminalize not only sweeps operators but their partner suppliers and other affiliated entities too. What it doesn’t do is prohibit non-gambling promotions such as those offered by retailers or hospitality businesses.
“This is not about banning good businesses out of New York,” Addabbo added. “This is protecting New Yorkers from illegal business. The governor, if she wants to, has this opportunity.”
Some sweeps operators tap out early
Addabbo’s bill empowers the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), state police and Attorney General Letitia James’ office (OAG) to investigate potential violators and shut down entities that fail to comply.
Days before it got final legislative approval, James’ office jumped the gun, declaring that online sweepstakes casinos were not welcome in the Empire State and reporting that 26 online gaming platforms had complied with cease-and-desist orders.
With Addabbo’s bill having gained momentum, leading sweeps and social gaming operators including High 5 Casino, McLuck, Hello Millions and VGW had already announced they would be pulling the plug on their dual-currency operations in New York.
“While we were working on the bill, it was nice to see our Attorney General and gaming commission doing what they can and basically scaring these companies out of New York,” Addabbo said. “Some of them saw us pass the legislation, saw the Attorney General’s office getting involved, and left on their own.”
Prohibit, then regulate
Addabbo’s name is familiar to those who follow New York legislators’ efforts to expand gambling. He was a voice in helping to establish Resorts World New York City in Queens and legalizing mobile sports betting in the state. In 2025, as he did in several years prior, the senator launched a renewed but ultimately unsuccessful push to legalize online casinos.
“People go to Jersey, to Pennsylvania, to Connecticut to do it,” he noted. “Or, of course, they just do it here illegally.”
Addabbo remains steadfast in his confidence that regulating iGaming is the best thing for New York, its residents and its coffers. While he hopes to clear out sweeps, it’s ultimately more legalization that he wants, not more prohibition.
“It could be simultaneously doing both,” he said. “Banning sweeps, yes, but the best thing we can do for the state is regulate. Once you regulate iGaming, you not only push out the illegal market, but you make for a very safe product. I think the real rational, progressive, incredible step would be to sign the bill to ban [sweeps], push that aside, and then regulate and make iGaming legal in New York.”
