New York bill seeks to ban in-play sports betting
Summary
A New York state assembly member, Linda Rosenthal, introduced legislation on 10 December that would prohibit operators from accepting in-play (live) sports wagers. The bill would amend the state’s racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law to require the state gaming commission to stop casinos and mobile licence holders from taking bets during events.
The proposed law would explicitly remove in-play bets from the list of permitted sports wagering types. It would take effect immediately if passed, representing a major shift in a market where in-play betting has grown rapidly since mobile launch in January 2022.
The move follows several 2025 sports integrity scandals — including indictments involving MLB players and restrictions on micro-bets — and echoes a similar push in New Jersey earlier in the year to curb micro/in-play bets on public-health and integrity grounds.
Key Points
- The bill, filed by Linda Rosenthal on 10 December, seeks to ban all in-play (live) sports wagering in New York.
- If passed, the state gaming commission would be required to prohibit casinos and mobile operators from accepting in-play wagers from New York bettors.
- The legislation would amend existing racing and wagering law to remove in-play bets from permitted wager definitions.
- In-play betting has been a substantial and growing part of New York’s market since mobile betting began in January 2022.
- New York already has a very high 51% GGR tax, making the market commercially challenging for operators; a ban on live bets would further reshape operator strategies and product offerings.
- The proposal follows high-profile integrity incidents in 2025 and similar regulatory moves elsewhere (for example, New Jersey’s earlier micro-bet proposal).
Context and Relevance
This is a consequential regulatory development for the US sports-betting sector. In-play wagering is viewed as the future growth area in mature markets; a ban in New York — one of the largest US markets by handle and attention — would affect operator revenues, product design, risk-management and compliance practices.
Regulators are increasingly weighing integrity and addiction concerns against commercial growth. If New York adopts this restriction, other states may follow or at least revisit rules on micro-bets and live markets. Operators, affiliates and investors should watch progress in the legislature closely.
Author style
Punchy: this piece flags a potentially industry-altering law. Read the detail if you care about market access, product roadmaps or regulatory risk — it’s not just another policy note; it could change how live markets work in the US.
Why should I read this?
Short answer: if you work in sports betting, payments, compliance, or content that drives wagers — this is the kind of rule that can force immediate product and commercial changes. It’s about who can offer what during a game, and that matters for revenue, risk rules and user experience. Worth five minutes now so you’re not surprised later.
Source
Source: https://next.io/news/regulation/new-york-bill-seeks-ban-in-play-betting/