New York has committed to a decade-long study of gambling behaviors in the largest online sports betting market in the U.S. as it continues to assess how it can best prevent problem gambling and support those affected.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the 10-year survey effort on Wednesday. A press release stated that the study is designed to assess how New Yorkers are gambling and to evaluate where additional problem gambling-related services and supports may be needed.
The survey will be administered and overseen by the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the government agency that currently provides gambling addiction support. New Yorkers aged 18+ in all areas of the state will be contacted to promote participation in questionnaire-based surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
What will the NY gambling study entail?
In short, the decade-long survey effort will focus on:
- Understanding the trends and viewpoints associated with gambling harms
- Assessing the prevalence of problem gambling and gambling disorder
- Understanding community awareness of risks associated with gambling
- Assisting with the planning and implementation of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery services within the state
- Informing enhancements and expansions to gambling services across New York
“New York State remains committed to helping those impacted by problem gambling, which can affect anyone, regardless of age or where they live,” said Hochul. “We look forward to gaining valuable insight into the gambling behaviors of New Yorkers as part of this effort, as we continue to work to raise awareness of this issue.
“This effort will help ensure we’re using real data to guide smart, targeted investments that protect New Yorkers and strengthen access to care.”
New Yorkers’ gambling options keep expanding
OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham added that the agency and the state government knows it must be proactive as gambling opportunities continue to expand in the state.
New York is by a distance the largest legal sports betting market in the country by total population and annual betting handle. There has also been a years-long effort by some legislators to legalize online casino gaming, and the state awarded three licenses late last year for expanded or brand-new brick-and-mortar casinos in various boroughs of New York City.
Just this week, one of those licensees, Resorts World New York City, introduced NYC’s first-ever live table games, adding offerings such as blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette. That casino, which Resorts World labels as the Big Apple’s first full-scale casino, now hosts more than 240 table games as well as more than 2,500 slot machines.
Meanwhile, a new form of gambling has emerged in recent times, not only in New York but across the country. The state government has issued public warnings about prediction markets offering a wagering equivalent that is “masquerading” as a financial product, without the benefit of state regulatory oversight. Last week, Hochul signed an Executive Order to ban state employees from using insider information to trade on prediction markets.
“As gambling opportunities continue to expand in New York State, we need to be proactive and determine where additional services may be needed to help those affected by gambling addiction,” said Cunningham, whose organization provides services such as outpatient and inpatient treatment and free financial counseling, and which also funds the regional Problem Gambling Resource Centers (PGRCs). “The results of this effort will help to inform future plans and initiatives, ensuring that New Yorkers remain protected from gambling harms, and that those impacted are able to access the services they need.”
Governor and regulator working to add safeguards
As New York’s significant expansion of gambling in recent years has continued in 2025 and 2026, state leaders have made numerous efforts to try to establish stronger and additional guardrails to protect residents.
In her 2026 State of the State address, Hochul directed the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) to explore ways to ensure minors are not betting via mobile, as well as to use technology to help identify and support people who may need gambling addiction assistance. Last month, she and the NYSGC announced new draft regulations that include proposals to:
- Ban gaming licensees from using AI to target bettors with personalized promotions and wager options
- Require sportsbooks to maintain a list of at-risk patrons and ensure those players receive responsible gaming information and do not receive direct advertising materials
- Require gambling platforms to implement several phases of active interventions when an at-risk player is identified
- Mandate the use of biometric ID data to prevent underage people from downloading a gambling app
The NYSGC also outlined a set of at least 11 automatic activity triggers that would flag a player for a mandatory due diligence review by a sports betting licensee to determine whether the patron is exhibiting signs of potential problem gambling, such as deposit amounts and frequencies and a marked increase in time spent on gambling apps.
Commission Chair Brian O’Dwyer said of the announcement of the decade-long gambling behavioral study that as the state has allowed gambling opportunities to increase, its responsibility to protect players and provide help has grown.
NY legislators put RG at forefront
Meanwhile, New York has been one of the most active states in terms of responsible gambling-focused legislation. Legislators such as Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner introduced a range of bills in 2025 and 2026, proposing a range of measures.
The New York Assembly unanimously voted in late March to pass three separate bills:
- Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay’s Assembly Bill 10329, which would require licensed online sportsbooks to provide gamblers with monthly profit/loss statements outlining their wagering activity
- Woerner’s A9113, which would enhance the state’s self-exclusion protocols to allow electronic enrolment
- Woerner’s A9584, which would ban proxy betting and mandate risk assessments for online sports bettors
“With the rapid expansion of legal sports betting and mobile gambling, New Yorkers have more opportunities to wager than ever before,” said Woerner, who is the Chair of the New York Assembly’s Committee on Racing and Wagering, of the newly announced gambling study. “While this growing form of entertainment is a powerful economic driver, we cannot ignore its impact on those vulnerable to addiction.
“Given that gambling can be a devastating addiction, the need for prevalence data is more urgent than ever to help us understand the scope of the problem in New York State and guide responsible public policy.”
