What's happening
This bill raises the legal gambling age in New York from eighteen to twenty-one for all gaming activities.
Why it matters
Expanding the legal gambling age to 21 aligns New York with other states. (such as New Jersey and Massachusetts), potentially helping to reduce “state line tourism” from young gamblers who might otherwise cross borders to access gaming at 18.
Raising the age limit could help address public health and addiction concerns,. as research indicates that younger individuals are at higher risk for developing gambling problems; this change aims to protect vulnerable age groups from early exposure.
The amendment creates a consistent standard across all gaming activities in New York,. including casinos, racetracks, and video lottery terminals, making regulations simpler for gaming businesses to enforce and for regulators to monitor.
This change could impact revenue streams and employment within the gaming industry,. as 18- to 20-year-olds would be barred from both participating in gambling and potentially from certain gaming sector jobs, possibly affecting overall patronage and workforce demographics.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Raise Gambling Age to 21
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
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.
Raise Gambling Age to 21
In Assembly Committee · Racing And Wagering · Sponsor Stacey Pheffer Amato
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1979
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and the tax law, in relation to prohibiting individuals under the age of twenty-one from gambling
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 108 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by section 1 of part A of chapter 60 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
2. No corporation, association or person that holds a license, registration, franchise, certificate or permit issued by the commission shall permit any person who is actually or apparently under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age to bet on gaming activity, as defined in subdivision five of section one hundred one of this article.
§ 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision b of section 1617-a of the tax law, as amended by section 1 of part SS of chapter 60 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
Such rules and regulations shall provide, as a condition of licensure, that racetracks to be licensed are certified to be in compliance with all state and local fire and safety codes, that no person who is actually and apparently under twenty-one years of age shall be permitted to participate in video lottery gaming, that the gaming commission is afforded adequate space, infrastructure, and amenities consistent with industry standards for such video lottery gaming operations as found at racetracks in other states, that racetrack employees involved in the operation of video lottery gaming pursuant to this section are licensed by the gaming commission and such other terms and conditions of licensure as the gaming commission may establish. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, video lottery gaming at a racetrack pursuant
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03729-01-9
S. 1979 2
to this section shall be deemed an approved activity for such racetrack under the relevant city, county, town, or village land use or zoning ordinances, rules, or regulations. No entity licensed by the gaming commission operating video lottery gaming pursuant to this section may house such gaming activity in a structure deemed or approved by the division as "temporary" for a duration of longer than [eighteen-months] eighteen months. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the gaming commission from licensing an entity to operate video lottery gaming at an existing racetrack as authorized in this subdivision whether or not a different entity is licensed to conduct horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at such racetrack pursuant to article two or three of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and the tax law, in relation to prohibiting individuals under the age of twenty-one from gambling
Purpose
To prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from gambling.
Summary of provisions
Amends Subdivision 2 of section 108 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, is amended to include individuals between 18 and 21 years of age from engaging in gambling.
Existing law
Existing law stipulates that certain individuals, i.e. Certain racing and wagering officials, employees and minors under the age of 18 are currently prohibited from placing wagers.
Justification
According to the NYS Council on Problem Gambling, 10% of adolescents in NYS (approximately 140,000) have experienced problems due to their gambling, and 28% of those adolescents who experienced problem gambling in the past may also be in need of treatment for chemical dependency. The organization Youth Gambling International found that young adults from 18 to 21 are three times more likely to have problems association with gambling.
Legislative history
2017: S4229 - REFERRED TO RACING, GAMING & WAGERING 2018: S4229 - REFERRED TO RACING, GAMING & WAGERING
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.