Since its record-shattering debut in January, with more than 17.2 million transactions in the first two days of operation, mobile sports betting in New York State saw $1.5 billion wagered during the month of February.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who advocated for more than three years to bring mobile sports betting to New York as the chair of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, is looking to keep those who wish to place their bets safe.
March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and Addabbo is highlighting the importance of identifying and helping those who may suffer from problem gambling.
With the legalization of mobile sports betting, which legislative language included roughly a dozen safeguards and addiction measures, problem gambling programs across the state have a new source of revenue of $6 million each year for problem gaming education and treatment.
Additionally, brick-and-mortar gaming sites are training their employees to spot the warning signs of problem gaming and how to help patrons with symptoms of gaming addiction. Procedures have been created for all of the mobile sports betting providers that allow customers to exclude themselves from gaming and limit their wagers when the customer raises a flag on their own betting habits.
Sportsbook operators are also required to freeze accounts and send a message to any customer when they have $2,500 in lifetime deposits, as well as provide them with information about problem gaming resources. Sportsbooks must inform customers about assistance for compulsive play while maintaining easy-to-find gaming assistance resources.