New York State has recognized March as Gambling Awareness Month, and on Monday, March 16, the gaming commission facilitated a meeting on the expansion and regulations of gaming operations.
Executive Director Robert Williams disclosed the aggressive opening of Resorts World Casino Project; after just receiving approval on December 15, 2025, to become New York City’s first full-service commercial casino.
Executive Director Williams stated, “Their facility is expected to initially house approximately 245 tables and 2,800 slot machines.”
Highlighting the significant expansion of New York’s gaming industry. This has caused the Gaming Commission to create a strong urgency for regulation and oversight.
Chairman Brian O’Dwyer added: “New York Lottery has contributed nearly $90 billion to public education since its founding. And recently the Commission, as you well know, facilitated $1.5 billion in casino licensing fees for the MTA infrastructure.”
Despite that New York State’s gaming industry operations have contributed to the welfare of New York substantially, the gaming commission has growing concerns around the issue of problem gambling and young people betting under the age of 21.
With emerging markets like sports betting, Chairman O’Dwyer said, “While it’s against the law for youth to participate in any regulated gambling in New York, this is the population at greatest risk and especially for young men.” He further explained that young people are a vulnerable population and easily impressionable.
Young people are being exposed to sports betting through online gaming, advertisements and social media, and this may increase the likelihood that they will be exposed to a gambling addiction.
In order to prevent this, the NYS Gaming Commission is proposing several measures regarding youth and problem gambling that are focused in large part on prevention, monitoring and accountability. One measure would be the implementation of age biometrics and verification, where all new and current account holders must submit facial recognition or fingerprints as a prerequisite to creating an account or placing a bet.
Another measure would be geolocation and account access controls that will prevent gambling from being conducted using an unauthorized device or from a geographically improbable location.
The NYS Gaming Commission is seeking authority to bar anyone who facilitates underage gambling, and this can include banning them from attending races, concerts, restaurants, etc., and/or from entering into casino facilities.
In addition, the Division of Gaming Enforcement in New Jersey has created a proposal which outlines rules that should be adopted by Sports Wagering Operators to further the development of Responsible Gaming in New Jersey; and identify categories of at-risk gamblers who may need assistance or intervention. The New York State Gaming Commission will consider a proposal similar to this one.
The Dram Shop Act was also mentioned in this meeting. This act holds businesses that provide alcoholic beverages accountable for serving it to minors and/or to individuals who are visibly intoxicated, and these are sites where underage gambling may be fostered. Chairman O’Dwyer believes, “Certainly in the state of New York, the Dram Shop Act has provided responsibility for owners of licensed bars and restaurants to assure that people are not overindulging.” Pointing out that gaming facilities should be liable and responsible for any harm that is caused to people under the age of 21, he further stated: “We need to shift our emphasis from just the problem gambler to those who are providing the facilities for problem gambling.”
The commission would like to reach out to young people who have been impacted by the gaming industry expansion, primarily through college campuses and universities, to find out what kind of an impact gambling has had on students and their mental health. Organizations such as the New York Council on Problem Gambling were suggested as an outreach.
Their goal is to use this input to develop proposals addressing youth and problem gambling and to ensure gambling facilities are held accountable. Staff are currently preparing proposals based on pre-proposal comment, and in the coming weeks, more updates on this initiative will be provided.