March 17, 2026 · Racing, Gaming and Wagering · 1,337 words · 3 speakers · 28 segments
And good morning everyone. Welcome to our March meeting of the race and Gaming and Waging committee. I am blessed to be the chair of the committee, Senator Joe Dabba, 15th District, March 17. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. And is also March is also problem Gambling Awareness month nationally. And so we acknowledge this month as how we take, how we help those who not only have an addiction but also pre addiction. So let's be again aware that problem gambling is an issue that this committee certainly has to give. And I want to say thank you to my colleagues. Joining us today is our Reicher, Senator Czisko. We have Senator Comrie and Senator Helming. Through this committee we did major efforts in funding problem gaming programs. We also banned the sweepstakes casino. So I want to thank again our legislative team. My committee director is Anna Sargent. We have our legal counsel, Paul McCarthy, we have Victor Diaz, our analyst. I also thank Zeki Tansel, our director of fiscal studies. You know, again this is an important month. And so before we get to the builds which have a little bit of a problem gaming theme to it today, but before that brief remarks, we are joined. Bolts. So I want to acknowledge Oasis. Oasis does phenomenal work. Joel Foskett, thank you so much for being here from Oasis. I think they do great work with addiction, but we work very closely with the New York Council of Problem Gambling which I think 365 days does phenomenal work for our individuals throughout the state who have possibly an addiction. And so with us today is the head of that council, Michelle Haddon. Michelle, thank you so much for being here.
Well, thank you Senator for having us. And thank you to the distinguished members of the committee for giving us a few minutes of your time today to talk about problem gambling during this important month. And I thought really with just a few minutes, the most important thing for us to probably focus on today is our youth. And I know that that has been a concern of the senators and you know, new research that is coming out is showing us that that 18 to 24 year old population is definitely GAM and the portion of them that are gambling are experiencing problems related to that gambling. So really appreciate the work of this committee in trying to ensure that there are safeguards available, that there's resources available. Because what we're seeing is that kids are involved in the activity without really a lot of knowledge prior about what the risks are, about what the odds are and about really making healthy decisions around their gambling, which I think is what everyone here wants to see. No one wants to see anyone developing A problem. But we're sorely lacking in prevention efforts as you always refer to them as pre gambling interventions. So I hope that as we move forward we can continue to keep that on the forefront for everyone. Because we know that we need parent education, we know that we need education in the schools, we know that we need community based programs doing this work as well. And we're doing it for substance use, we're doing it for tobacco, we're doing it for alcohol. But the conversations around gambling are really pretty non existent. So kids are going into, you know, making decisions about their involvement with gambling with really out the background knowledge that they need to do so safely. So you know, I thank you again for the work that you do here. I look forward to working with you Senator, as we move forward and hope that we can continue to implement safeguards and additional funding to support the services that are so needed to protect our youth.
So Ms. Haddon, thank you so much.
Thanks for having us.
I want to personally thank Ms. Hadden and the New York Council for problem Gambling because recently we sponsored along with them an event in the district. They spoke before hiding school students about the issues of problem gaming and addiction. So I want to thank you because we did center on the youth at that point at that event. So I want to say thank you. And the governor made a statement at the state of the state that she wants to protect minors from doing the mobile sports betting. And I agree and I hope to work with the governor's office with that as well. So thank you so much.
Thank you. Thank you for having us.
Appreciate the work that you do.
Thank you.
Thank you. Okay, today we have four bills on the agenda and based on the attendance and the voting sheets we do have a quorum. So our first bill is Senate Bill 5640 by Senator Bailey and Alexa committee
director and the Sergeant to read 5640D Bailey an act to amend the racing paramutual wagering and breeding law in relation to authorizing up to 2% of mobile sports tax revenue be used for youth team sports funding.
This bill passed the committee previously 2024 and it's now possibly a topic of budget conversations. Any discussion on the bill motion? I'm gonna move the bill but as long as it goes for basketball I'm forward most of it. Senator Tedisco first, Senator Conry second. All in favor and without record? Negative.
I'm without a rec only because I think it should be higher than what is included.
And I also would like to see a carve out for Financial literacy for our young people. And like we just heard from the
Ms. Haddon about the need for additional
funding for gambling intervention for young people. And this doesn't I think cover that.
This is for sports, Right? But more money for sports. Of course. And more money for problem gaming always. We do have enough votes to advance the bill. This bill is now referred to the Finance Committee.
Second Bill 7482B Stavisky. An act to amend the racing, paramutual wagering and breeding law in relation to designating an individual who has been convicted of certain crimes against athletes, coaches, officials or participants of a sports event as a prohibited sports better.
Any discussion on the bill? Sen. Senator Comyn by Senator Disc. All in favor without record?
No, I'm an awr.
Without recommendation and we have that recommendation from Senator Sanders. Sanders. The bill has enough votes to advance. So this goes to the calendar.
Third bill 8636A Fernandez. An act to amend the racing par mutual wagering and breeding law in relation to permitting requests self exclusion from gambling to be made electronically.
This is a new bill, but one of the problem gaming bills making it easier for someone to self exclude. Any discussions or motion? Motion by Senator Comrie. Second by Senator Disko. All in favor?
Aye.
Without record? No. No. And it has enough votes to move on. So this bill does advance to the Finance Committee. Goes to the Finance Committee.
And last bill today 9,183 adabo. An act to amend the racing, paramutual wagering and breeding in relation to eligibility. Eligibility requirements for horses participating in the three racing levels of the New York Sire Stakes program.
This bill yesterday passed the assembly unanimously. So as bipartisan support again unanimous vote in the assembly hopefully we can pass in the Senate. Are your motion move the bill Senator Tedisco Motion second by Senator Comri all in favor?
Aye.
Okay. Without record? No. And we have without Representative Sanders. Bill does move to the calendar and that is it to everyone. Thank you so much and again, happy St. Patrick's Day everybody. Enjoy. Thank you.