Includes contests wherein participants select whether athletes, in the case of sporting events, shall accumulate more or less than a target score set by an operator, as an interactive fantasy sports contest; provides a definition for interactive fantasy sports gross revenue; makes related provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2617
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wager-
ing
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to interactive fantasy sports
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1401 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breed-
2 ing law, as added by chapter 237 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read
3 as follows:
4 § 1401. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms
5 shall have the following meanings:
6 1. ["Authorized player" shall mean an individual located in New York
7 state, who is not a prohibited player, that participates in an interac-
8 tive fantasy sports contest offered by a registrant.
9 2. "Collegiate sport or athletic event" shall mean a sport or athletic
10 event offered or sponsored by or played in connection with a public or
11 private institution that offers education services beyond the secondary
12 level.
13 3.] "Commission" shall mean the New York state gaming commission.
14 [4. "Entry fee" shall mean cash or cash equivalent that is paid by an
15 authorized player to an operator or registrant to participate in an
16 interactive fantasy sports contest offered by such operator or regis-
17 trant.
18 5. "High school sport or athletic event" shall mean a sport or athlet-
19 ic event offered or sponsored by or played in connection with a public
20 or private institution that offers education services at the secondary
21 level.
22 6. "Highly experienced player" shall mean an authorized player who
23 has:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06892-01-5
S. 2617 2
1 (a) entered more than one thousand contests offered by a single opera-
2 tor or registrant; or
3 (b) won more than three prizes valued at one thousand dollars each or
4 more from a single operator or registrant.
5 7. "Horse racing event" shall mean any sport or athletic event
6 conducted in New York state subject to the provisions of articles two,
7 three, four, five, six, nine, ten and eleven of this chapter, or any
8 sport or athletic event conducted outside of New York state, which if
9 conducted in New York state would be subject to the provisions of this
10 chapter.
11 8.] 2. "Interactive fantasy sports contest" or "contest" shall mean a
12 game of skill wherein [one] two or more contestants compete against each
13 other, including contests wherein participants select whether athletes,
14 in the case of sporting events, shall accumulate more or less than a
15 target score set by an operator, by using [their] such participant's
16 knowledge and understanding of athletic events and athletes to select
17 and manage rosters of simulated players whose performance directly
18 corresponds with the actual performance of human competitors on sports
19 teams and in sports events.
20 [9. "Interactive fantasy sports gross revenue" shall mean the amount
21 equal to the total of all entry fees not attributable to New York state
22 prohibited sports events that a registrant collects from all players,
23 less the total of all sums not attributable to New York state prohibited
24 sports events paid out as winnings to all players, multiplied by the
25 resident percentage for New York state; provided, however, that the
26 total of all sums paid out as winnings to players shall not include the
27 cash equivalent value of any merchandise or thing of value awarded as a
28 prize.
29 10.] 3. "Target score" shall mean a numerical figure established by an
30 operator that is derived from a single athlete's accumulated statistics,
31 multiple statistics or a fantasy score, and for which a contestant
32 chooses whether an identified instance or statistical achievement shall
33 or shall not occur, shall be achieved, or shall be surpassed. Use of a
34 target score shall be an interactive fantasy sports contest that does
35 not render such a contest as sports wagering, as such term is defined in
36 paragraph (x) of subdivision one of section thirteen hundred sixty-seven
37 of this chapter, provided the scoring criteria is offered by a regis-
38 trant as part of a peer-to-peer interactive fantasy sports contest.
39 4. (a) "Interactive fantasy sports operator" or "operator" shall mean
40 any person or entity that offers any interactive fantasy sports contest
41 to any authorized player through any interactive fantasy sports plat-
42 form.
43 [11.] (b) An operator shall not be considered an interactive fantasy
44 sports contest contestant by virtue of doing any of the following:
45 (i) setting house rules for a contest;
46 (ii) assigning a salary or target score to any eligible athlete or
47 player;
48 (iii) accepting an entry fee from a fantasy contest participant; or
49 (iv) awarding or disbursing prizes.
50 5. "Interactive fantasy sports platform" or "platform" shall mean the
51 combination of hardware, software, and data networks used to manage,
52 administer, or control contests and any associated entry fees.
53 [12.] 6. "Interactive fantasy sports registrant" or "registrant" shall
54 mean an operator that is registered by the commission. A registrant may
55 utilize multiple interactive fantasy sports platforms and offer multiple
S. 2617 3
1 contests, provided that each platform and each contest has been reviewed
2 and approved by the commission.
3 [13. "Minor" shall mean any person under the age of eighteen years.
4 14.] 7. "Authorized player" or "contestant" shall mean an individual
5 located in the state of New York, who is not a prohibited player, that
6 participates in an interactive fantasy sports contest offered by a
7 registrant and is at least twenty-one years of age.
8 8. "Entry fee" shall mean cash or cash equivalent that is paid by an
9 authorized player to an operator or registrant to participate in an
10 interactive fantasy sports contest offered by such operator or regis-
11 trant.
12 9. "Highly experienced player" shall mean an authorized player who
13 has:
14 (a) entered more than one thousand contests offered by a single opera-
15 tor or registrant; or
16 (b) won more than three prizes valued at one thousand dollars each or
17 more from a single operator or registrant.
18 10. "Prohibited player" shall mean:
19 (a) any member, officer, employee or agent of an operator or regis-
20 trant;
21 (b) any spouse, child, [brother, sister] sibling or parent residing as
22 a member of the same household in the principal place of abode of any
23 member, officer, employee or agent of an operator or registrant;
24 (c) any individual with access to non-public confidential information
25 about contests;
26 (d) any amateur or professional athlete whose performance may be used
27 to determine the outcome of a contest;
28 (e) any sports agent, team employee, referee, or league official asso-
29 ciated with any sport or athletic event on which contests are based;
30 (f) any individual located in a state where the conduct of contests is
31 expressly prohibited; or
32 (g) any minor.
33 [15.] 11. "Minor" shall mean any person under the age of twenty-one
34 years.
35 12. "Prohibited sports event" shall mean any collegiate sport or
36 athletic event, any high school sport or athletic event or any horse
37 racing event.
38 [16.] 13. "Resident percentage" shall mean, for each interactive
39 fantasy sports contest, the percentage, rounded to the nearest tenth of
40 a percent, of the total entry fees collected from players located in New
41 York state, divided by the total entry fees collected from all players
42 in interactive fantasy sports contests not prohibited in New York state.
43 [17. "Sports event" shall mean any amateur or professional sport or
44 athletic event, except a prohibited sports event.]
45 14. "Interactive fantasy sports gross revenue" shall mean the amount
46 equal to the total of all entry fees not attributable to New York state
47 prohibited sports events that a registrant collects from all players,
48 less the total of all sums not attributable to New York state prohibited
49 sports events paid out as winnings to all players, multiplied by the
50 resident percentage for New York state; provided, however, that the
51 total of all sums paid out as winnings to players shall not include the
52 cash equivalent value of any merchandise or item of value awarded as a
53 prize.
54 § 2. Section 1402 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding
55 law, as added by chapter 237 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as
56 follows:
S. 2617 4
1 § 1402. Registration. 1. [(a)] No operator shall administer, manage,
2 or otherwise make available an interactive fantasy sports platform to
3 persons located in New York state unless registered with the commission
4 pursuant to section fourteen hundred three of this article. A registrant
5 may use multiple interactive fantasy sports platforms and offer multiple
6 types of contests, provided that each platform and each type of contest
7 has been reviewed and approved by the commission. This article, and any
8 and all rules and regulations adopted under the authority of this arti-
9 cle, shall apply only to interactive fantasy sports contests for which
10 an authorized player pays an entry fee.
11 [(b) Any operator that was offering contests to persons located in New
12 York state prior to the tenth of November, two thousand fifteen, may
13 continue to offer contests to persons located in New York state until
14 such operator's application for registration has been approved or denied
15 in accordance with section fourteen hundred three of this article,
16 provided that such operator receives a temporary permit pursuant to
17 subdivision two of this section and files an application for registra-
18 tion with the commission within ninety days of the promulgation of regu-
19 lations to effectuate this article.]
20 2. [The commission shall provide a temporary permit to each operator
21 that was offering contests pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision one
22 of this section to allow such operator to continue to offer such
23 contests, on a provisional basis, until such operator's application for
24 registration has been approved or denied in accordance with section
25 fourteen hundred three of this article, provided that such operator
26 meets all the requirements in section fourteen hundred four of this
27 article.
28 3.] Registrations issued by the commission shall remain in effect for
29 [three] five years. The commission shall establish a process for
30 renewal. The renewal fee for all interactive fantasy sports registrants
31 shall be one percent of interactive fantasy sports gross revenues for
32 the preceding period of registration.
33 3. The initial registration fee for an interactive fantasy sports
34 operator shall be five million dollars.
35 4. Interactive fantasy sports contests offered by a registrant in
36 accordance with the provisions of this article shall not constitute
37 gambling as defined in article two hundred twenty-five of the penal law.
38 5. The commission shall publish a list of all operators registered in
39 New York state pursuant to this section on the commission's website for
40 public use.
41 [6. The commission shall promulgate regulations to implement the
42 provisions of this article, including the development of the initial
43 form of the application for registration. Such regulations shall provide
44 for the registration and operation of contests in New York state and
45 shall include, but not be limited to, responsible protections with
46 regard to compulsive play and safeguards for fair play.]
47 § 3. The opening paragraph of subdivision 4 of section 1403 of the
48 racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by chapter 237
49 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
50 Upon receipt of criminal history information pursuant to subdivision
51 three of this section, the commission shall make a determination to
52 approve or deny an application for registration; provided, however, that
53 before making a determination on such application, the commission shall
54 provide the subject of the record with a copy of such criminal history
55 information and a copy of article twenty-three-A of the correction law
56 and inform such prospective applicant seeking to be credentialed of [his
S. 2617 5
1 or her] such prospective applicant's right to seek correction of any
2 incorrect information contained in such criminal history information
3 pursuant to the regulations and procedures established by the division
4 of criminal justice services. The commission [shall] may deny any appli-
5 cation for registration, or suspend, refuse to renew, or revoke any
6 existing registration issued pursuant to this article, upon the finding
7 that the operator or registrant, or any partner, officer, director, or
8 shareholder:
9 § 4. Paragraphs (o) and (q) of subdivision 1 of section 1404 of the
10 racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by chapter 237
11 of the laws of 2016, are amended to read as follows:
12 (o) ensure all winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and
13 skill of the authorized [players] contestants and shall be determined
14 predominantly by one or more accumulated statistical results of the
15 performance of individuals in sports events;
16 (q) ensure no winning outcome shall be based solely on [any] a single
17 performance of an individual athlete in a single sport or athletic
18 event; and
19 § 5. Section 1405 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law
20 is amended by adding four new subdivisions 3, 4, 5 and 6 to read as
21 follows:
22 3. The provisions of this chapter shall be construed liberally to
23 promote the general welfare of the public and integrity of the fantasy
24 sports industry. However, the commission may not adopt rules limiting or
25 regulating the rules or administration of an individual interactive
26 fantasy contest, the statistical makeup of a fantasy contest, or the
27 digital platform of a fantasy contest operator. Further, the commission
28 may not in any way limit or restrict the types of fantasy contests
29 allowed pursuant to this article, by labeling any such contests as
30 sports wagering as such term is defined in paragraph (x) of subdivision
31 one of section thirteen hundred sixty-seven of this chapter.
32 4. The commission shall verify that operators deploy identity and
33 geolocation verification procedures, which may require the use of a
34 reputable, independent third-party that is in the business of verifying
35 an individual's personally identifiable information and can detect
36 potential prohibited participants.
37 5. The commission shall verify that operators employ mechanisms on
38 such operator's platform that are designed to detect and prevent unau-
39 thorized accounts, and to detect and prevent fraud, money laundering,
40 and collusion.
41 6. Within one hundred twenty days of the effective date of this subdi-
42 vision, the commission shall review and revise its current fantasy
43 sports rules and regulations, as set forth in 9 NYCRR §§ 5600-5613.4,
44 and promulgate any needed new rules in order to effectuate and enforce
45 all provisions of this article.
46 § 6. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 1406 of the
47 racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by chapter 237
48 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
49 Each [registrant] operator shall annually submit a report to the
50 commission no later than the thirtieth of June of each year, which shall
51 include the following information as it shall apply to accounts held by
52 authorized players located in New York state:
53 § 7. Section 1408 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding
54 law, as added by chapter 237 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as
55 follows:
S. 2617 6
1 § 1408. Additional regulatory costs. The commission may assess annual-
2 ly, in arrears, on each [registrant] operator proportional to the inter-
3 active fantasy sports gross revenue of such registrant in the preceding
4 year compared to the aggregate interactive fantasy sports gross revenue
5 of all registrants in the preceding year actual costs necessary to regu-
6 late in accordance with the provisions of this article. Such assessments
7 shall be made only within amounts appropriated therefor.
8 § 8. This act shall take effect immediately.
