New York Gaming Commission applauds Hochul as state targets underage online betting
The chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission has voiced support and applauded Governor Kathy Hochul for her commitment to protecting New Yorkers, as she outlined more than 200 initiatives, including gambling-related measures.
Amongst the many topics in the address, Governor Hochul has highlighted how online sports betting has become immensely popular and has stressed young people need to be protected from the harmful effects of gamified sports betting. She has also laid out how she would approach this going forward.
Shortly after her address, Brian O’Dwyer, the chairman of the NYS Gaming Commission, said: “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.”
Within the announcement, she says she “will direct the Gaming Commission to explore effective ways to ensure young people are not illegally downloading betting apps, creating accounts, or using the accounts of others, including the use of biometric approaches.
“These actions will protect young people from the harms of online betting, which include significant financial loss and addictive behavior.”
She has also set her sights on curbing gambling addiction in the state, as the address outlines how she will take “comprehensive action to strengthen prevention, treatment, and harm reduction around problem gambling through evidence-based practices and supports, as well as implementing a data-driven approach to identify and address long-term trends.”
This includes advancing legislation to ensure treatment for addiction disorders are covered by insurance, integrating gambling recovery services into 16 recovery community and outreach centers, establishing a Gambling Health Institute that equips organizations statewide with the tools and training they need to address problem gambling, creating a specialized certification for peer advocates who have lived experience with gambling harms, amongst several other changes. In December 2025, Hochul already outlawed online sweepstakes casinos with new enforcement and penalties, signing Senate Bill 5935 into law.
Featured Image: Via Governor Kathy Hochul’s YouTube
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