Establishes a problem gambling research institute to examine and find solutions to problem gambling in the state of New York; creates a fund to fund such problem gambling institute.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9239
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
November 7, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation
to creating a problem gambling research institute and fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 355-f
2 to read as follows:
3 § 355-f. New York state problem gambling research institute. 1. Insti-
4 tute formation and goals. Subject to amounts available by appropriation,
5 the New York state problem gambling research institute, hereinafter the
6 "institute", is hereby created within the state university of New York.
7 The purposes of the institute shall include:
8 (a) advising the governor, governmental agencies, the regents, and the
9 legislature on matters relating to problem gambling in New York state;
10 (b) fostering, pursuing, and sponsoring collaborative problem gambling
11 research;
12 (c) increasing understanding by establishing and reporting on what is
13 known and what is not known about problem gambling in the state;
14 (d) identifying priority needs for problem gambling research within
15 New York that currently is not receiving adequate attention, and identi-
16 fying public or private entities that are best situated to address such
17 needs, thereby leading to better coordination of problem gambling
18 research efforts in the state;
19 (e) promoting awareness of existing and new sources of problem gambl-
20 ing information and problem gambling while educating elected officials,
21 governmental agencies, and the general public on problem gambling issues
22 through such means as it may determine;
23 (f) organizing and sponsoring meetings on problem gambling topics;
24 (g) encouraging the establishment of networks of collaborating experts
25 engaged in related aspects of problem gambling research;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13712-02-5
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1 (h) raising sensitivity to problem gambling concerns among state and
2 local government agencies, and serving as a forum for enhanced intera-
3 gency information sharing and cooperation;
4 (i) recommending priority activities for funding through the problem
5 gambling research fund, created pursuant to section ninety-seven-bbbbb
6 of the state finance law;
7 (j) working on a continuing basis with policymakers in the legislature
8 and state agencies to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative prob-
9 lem gambling prevention policies and programs;
10 (k) recruiting and providing specialized training opportunities for
11 new researchers, including experienced investigators in related fields
12 who are beginning work on problem gambling, young investigators who have
13 completed their education, postdoctoral scholars, doctoral students, and
14 undergraduates; and
15 (l) providing copies of their research publications to the legislature
16 and to agencies supplying data used in the conduct of such research as
17 soon as is practicable following publication.
18 2. Research. The institute shall foster, pursue, and sponsor basic,
19 translational, and transformative research, field studies, and all other
20 such activities to research:
21 (a) user interface design elements that contribute to the addictive
22 nature of online gambling;
23 (b) the nature of problem gambling, including individual and societal
24 determinants of risk for involvement in problem gambling;
25 (c) the individual, community, and societal consequences of problem
26 gambling;
27 (d) the prevention and treatment of problem gambling at the individ-
28 ual, community, and societal levels; and
29 (e) the effectiveness of existing laws and policies intended to reduce
30 problem gambling, and efforts to promote responsible gambling.
31 3. Education and information transfer programs. To the extent possi-
32 ble, the institute shall foster the collection, transfer, and applica-
33 tion of problem gambling information in the state by:
34 (a) fostering access, compatibility, interchange, and synthesis of
35 data about problem gambling maintained by public entities, academic and
36 research institutions, and private organizations;
37 (b) employing advanced technology to coordinate for ease of use of the
38 scattered problem gambling resources of the state; and
39 (c) supporting the preparation and publication of interpretative works
40 that draw upon problem gambling resources.
41 4. Quinquennial reports. The institute shall prepare and submit a
42 report within one year of the effective date of this section and every
43 five years thereafter to the governor and the legislature describing
44 programs undertaken or sponsored by the institute, the status of know-
45 ledge regarding problem gambling in the state, and research needs
46 related thereto.
47 5. Executive committee. The institute shall be guided by an executive
48 committee. Members of the committee shall be from varying backgrounds
49 with members selected from the scientific community, academic community,
50 as well as from government service. Such committee shall consist of
51 fourteen members including the commissioner, the chair of the gaming
52 commission or their designee, the commissioner of the office of
53 addiction services and supports, the commissioner of mental health, the
54 chancellor of the university or their designee, three at large members
55 appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the temporary presi-
56 dent of the senate, one member appointed by the minority leader of the
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1 senate, two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and one
2 member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. Appointed
3 members shall serve for a term of three years, provided that such
4 members may be reappointed. The executive committee shall:
5 (a) adopt policies, procedures, and criteria governing the programs
6 and operations of the institute;
7 (b) recommend to the governor and legislature appropriate actions to
8 reduce problem gambling within the state;
9 (c) develop and implement the research, education, and information
10 transfer programs of the institute;
11 (d) identify and rate proposals for problem gambling research;
12 (e) submit to the director of the budget, and the chairpersons of the
13 senate finance committee and the assembly ways and means committee on
14 the first day of October, two thousand twenty-six and on or before
15 August first each year thereafter, a budget request for the expenditure
16 of funds available from the problem gambling research fund, for the
17 purposes established by section ninety-seven-bbbbb of the state finance
18 law; and
19 (f) meet publicly at least twice a year. The committee shall widely
20 disseminate notice of its meetings at least two weeks prior to each
21 meeting. The commissioners on the executive committee and the chancellor
22 of the university shall aid in such dissemination.
23 6. Scientific working group. The institute shall appoint a scientific
24 working group consisting of individuals having knowledge and expertise
25 in problem gambling research which shall advise and make recommendations
26 to the institute regarding its research and information programs.
27 7. Institute director. The institute shall have a director who shall
28 be appointed by the executive committee and shall after appointment be
29 an employee of the state university. The institute director shall serve
30 at the pleasure of the executive committee. The institute director shall
31 serve as chief administrative officer of the institute and provide the
32 necessary support for the executive committee.
33 8. Compensation. The members of the executive committee and the scien-
34 tific working group shall serve without additional compensation, but
35 shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for their actual and neces-
36 sary expenses from the problem gambling research fund established by
37 section ninety-seven-bbbbb of the state finance law, provided however,
38 members of the executive committee representing state agencies may
39 receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses from their
40 respective agencies. Members of the executive committee and scientific
41 working group shall be considered state employees for the purposes of
42 sections seventeen and nineteen of the public officers law.
43 9. Memorandum of understanding. The state university of New York, the
44 department of mental health, the gaming commission, and the office of
45 addiction services and supports shall enter into a written memorandum of
46 understanding to facilitate the appropriate implementation of the prob-
47 lem gambling research institute and the goals, responsibilities, and
48 programs established by this section.
49 § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-bbbbb
50 to read as follows:
51 § 97-bbbbb. Problem gambling research fund. 1. There is hereby estab-
52 lished in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commission-
53 er of taxation and finance a fund to be known as the problem gambling
54 research fund.
55 2. The problem gambling research fund shall consist of all moneys
56 credited or transferred thereto from any other fund or source, including
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1 any federal, state, or private funds, pursuant to law for the purposes
2 of problem gambling research.
3 3. Moneys in the problem gambling research fund may be invested by the
4 comptroller pursuant to section ninety-eight-a of this article, and any
5 income received by the comptroller shall be used for the purposes of
6 such fund.
7 4. The moneys held in or credited to the fund shall be expended for
8 the purposes set forth in this section, and may not be interchanged or
9 commingled with any other account or fund but may be commingled with any
10 other fund or account for investment purposes.
11 5. Moneys in the problem gambling research fund, following appropri-
12 ation by the legislature, shall be available to the New York problem
13 gambling research institute for its activities as set forth in section
14 three hundred fifty-five-f of the education law.
15 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
