New York Senators voted 57-2 to approve a ban on sweepstakes casinos in New York proposed in Senate Bill S 5935A. After passing through the Senate, the bill has now been sent to the House, where the Assembly Ways and Means Committee will discuss it.
Proposed by Senator Joseph Addabbo, the bill calls for a complete ban on sweepstakes games. It defines these as casino-style games that can be played with a dual-currency system, in which players can exchange currency for cash or prizes. The bill also seeks to prevent any other company, including suppliers, investment firms, and payment processors, from working with sweepstakes operators.
the power to investigate and issue cease-and-desist orders
Enforcement of the proposed ban would be the responsibility of the state’s gambling regulator, the New York State Gaming Commission, working with the Office of the Attorney General. The bill gives them the power to investigate and issue cease-and-desist orders, and those found to have violated the law will be subject to five-figure fines and revocation of their gaming license.
Speaking about the bill in front of fellow lawmakers, Sen. Addabbo said: “As of now, our state has not legalized online gaming. The legal markets currently are the seven licensed casinos in New York and any other gaming issue that has been authorized by New York through you… Until we legalize online gaming in New York, we do not want the illegal market to expand, to grow, to target minors or those that have problems.”
