The New York State Gaming Commission’s (NYSGC) Chairman Brian O’Dwyer has responded to a recent address from Governor Kathy Hochul which discussed responsible gambling.
Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address saw her touch upon themes of gambling harms, prevention measure and techniques, underage gambling access prevention and new technologies to help combat or aid all of the above. As such, the Chairman of the state’s regulator has responded positively to the address – reiterating the Commission’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals of any kind.
In full, O’Dwyer stated: “The Gaming Commission fully supports and applauds Governor Hochul’s commitment to protect New Yorkers, including safeguards to prevent underage individuals from gambling and employing innovative tech to identify and help those who may be experiencing gambling harms.
“The Commission will consider actions to prevent underage access, including the possibility of biometric requirements for account access and real consequences for those who share their legal accounts with underage individuals. We will also continue to work with OASAS to implement the latest technology into the online sports wagering process to best position access to help for those who need it.”
It has been a busy few months for gambling in the Empire State, as the conclusion of 2025 saw New York City grant its very first casino licenses for two development projects in the Bronx, and one in Queens. Also in late December, a state assemblymember introduced a new bill seeking ban on live bets following recent scandals in the MLB and NBA.
More recently, last week saw the NYSGC unveil the state’s December casino statistics, reporting that overall revenue dropped 3% year-over-year to $53.3m. Sports betting handle, however, rose 4.4% to $2.4bn.
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