What's happening
This bill requires the creation of educational materials and a problem gambling education program for individuals who self-exclude from gaming facilities and seek removal from exclusion lists.
Why it matters
Provides immediate education and resources to those at risk. By mandating educational materials be given to individuals who self-exclude from gaming, the bill ensures people confronting gambling problems are quickly connected to information about treatment and support options, potentially preventing further harm.
Makes re-entry to gambling facilities conditional on education. Individuals who wish to remove themselves from self-exclusion lists must first complete a problem gambling education program, adding a safeguard that may help them better understand and manage their behaviors before returning.
Standardizes the process and increases accountability. The requirement for proof of program completion before self-exclusion is rescinded ensures a consistent, documented intervention across all licensed gaming entities, reducing the risk of individuals slipping through regulatory cracks.
Signals a shift toward public health approaches in gambling regulation. By embedding education and treatment resource requirements in law, the bill moves beyond punitive or exclusion-only responses, treating problem gambling more like a health issue than simply a matter of personal responsibility.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Gambling Help Requirements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Help for Gambling Addiction
In Senate Committee · Alcoholism And Substance Abuse · Sponsor Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2729
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CYMBROWITZ, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARRETT, BENEDETTO, COOK, CRESPO, ENGLEBRIGHT, JAFFEE, PERRY, TITUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to compulsive gambling assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding two new subdivisions (k) and (l) to read as follows:
(k) The commissioner shall create educational materials regarding compulsive gambling for the purpose of educating individuals that voluntarily place themselves on a self exclusion list of an association or corporation licensed or enfranchised by the New York state gaming commission pursuant to section one hundred eleven of the racing, parimutuel wagering and breeding law immediately upon placement on such list. The educational materials shall be made available on the website of the office and shall include but not be limited to resources to treatment.
(l) The commissioner, in consultation with the New York state gaming commission shall establish a problem gambling education program to be completed by all individuals that have placed themselves on a self exclusion list pursuant to section one hundred eleven of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, whom subsequently request removal from such exclusion list. This education program shall be made available on the websites of both the office and the New York state gaming commission and shall include but not be limited to resources to treatment.
§ 2. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subdivision 2 of section 111 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by section 1 of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06782-01-9
A. 2729 2
part A of chapter 60 of the laws of 2012, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to which people may: voluntarily exclude themselves from entering the premises of an association or corporation licensed or enfranchised by the commission pursuant to this chapter; receive the required educational materials pursuant to subdivision (k) of section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law; and, upon request to be removed from the self exclusion list, complete the problem gambling education program pursuant to subdivision (l) of section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law.
(c) No voluntary order or request to exclude persons from entering the premises of any such association, corporation, or facility may be rescinded, canceled, or declared null and void until [seven days after a request] such individual who is self excluded completes in paper or electronic format, an educational program approved by the office pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (l) of section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law and proof of completion has been received by such association, corporation, or facility to cancel such order or request.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.