STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6745
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to prohibiting online sweepstakes games and revenue from
illegal markets
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative purpose. It is the purpose of this legislation
2 to prohibit certain persons from operating, conducting, or promoting
3 certain online sweepstakes games or supporting the operation, conduct-
4 ing, or promotion of certain online sweepstakes games. This legislation
5 requires the New York state gaming commission and/or the New York state
6 attorney general to deny a person from commencing or continuing oper-
7 ations if such person or an affiliate of such person knowingly accepts
8 revenue that is directly or indirectly derived from online sweepstakes
9 games, and enforce penalties on behalf of any findings of prohibited
10 engagement.
11 § 2. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
12 adding a new section 912 to read as follows:
13 § 912. Prohibition of online sweepstakes games and revenue from ille-
14 gal markets. 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, "online
15 sweepstakes game" shall mean any game, contest, or promotion that is
16 available on the internet and/or accessible on a mobile phone, computer
17 terminal, or similar access device, that utilizes a dual-currency system
18 of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize,
19 award, cash or cash equivalents, or any chance to win any price, award,
20 cash or cash equivalents, and simulates casino-style gaming, including
21 but not limited to, slot machines, video poker, table games including
22 but not limited to blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker, lottery games
23 including but not limited to draw games, instant win games, keno, and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10101-01-5
A. 6745 2
1 bingo, and sports wagering. A sweepstakes game shall not include a game
2 which does not award cash prizes or cash equivalents.
3 2. Prohibition. (a) It shall be unlawful for any applicant, licensed
4 entity, gaming employee, key employee, individual investor or investment
5 firm, board member, or any other person or entity to operate, conduct,
6 or promote sweepstakes games within the state of New York.
7 (b) It shall be unlawful for any applicant, licensed entity, financial
8 institution, payment processor, geolocation provider, gaming content
9 supplier, platform provider, or media affiliate to support the opera-
10 tion, conduct, or promotion of sweepstakes games within the state of New
11 York.
12 3. Penalties. Any applicant, licensed entity, gaming employee, key
13 employee, individual investor or investment firm, board member, or any
14 other person or entity found in violation of this section shall be
15 subject to a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars and not more
16 than one hundred thousand dollars for each violation and shall be
17 subject to the loss of a gaming license and/or be ineligible for a
18 gaming license.
19 4. Enforcement. (a) The state gaming commission, the state police, or
20 the attorney general's office shall have the authority to enforce the
21 provisions of this section.
22 (b) The state gaming commission may conduct investigations, hold hear-
23 ings, issue cease and desist letters, and issue subpoenas to ensure
24 compliance with the provisions of this section.
25 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
