NY governor cautions about AI targeting gamblers

(AsiaGameHub) –   New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced a series of proposals aimed at protecting against underage online gambling.

Hochul set aside a portion of her 2026 State of the State speech to instruct the New York State Gaming Commission to take suitable measures, noting that mobile sports betting is ‘luring everyone—including our young people—to place bets without fully thinking through the outcomes’.

“We require robust regulatory protections to stop individuals under 21 from gambling, prevent artificial intelligence from exploiting gamblers, and mandate sports betting operators to take meaningful steps if any of their customers display signs of gambling-related harm,” she added.

In response to this directive, the state’s gaming regulatory body has released proposals that will mandate operators to utilize geolocation tools and put in place age-verification and device registration measures to stop individuals under 21 from downloading gambling apps.

Operators will also ask players to submit biometric information when setting up an account to confirm that the app is being used by the individual who originally created the account.

Per the National Council on Problem Gambling, nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults stated they gambled before turning 21. Of those who did, 23% placed a sports bet and 21% played online casino-style games.

Gaming Commission Chair Brian O’Dwyer said: “No other type of gambling has become as ingrained in our awareness as sports betting, and vulnerable children are regularly exposed to this activity. We’ve found extra methods to safeguard our youth, assist those in crisis, and maintain safe, legal, and regulated gaming for all New York residents.”

Additionally, the commission aims to address AI usage and has put forward a proposal to ban all licensees from using AI to provide customized promotions or recommended bets.

These proposals, along with a distinct set of measures to roll out a three-step protocol for operators to assist at-risk players, have been released by the commission for feedback from relevant stakeholders by May 15.

Is iGaming on the horizon for New York?

New York’s online sports betting market is among the biggest in the U.S. and is still expanding. In December 2025, players bet more than $2.38 billion, with market leaders FanDuel and DraftKings reporting revenues of $120.1 million and $84.1 million, respectively.

Even with this growth, online casinos are still banned. But certain parts of the New York Senate have been advocating for regulated iGaming to come to The Empire State.

Following Governor Hochul’s signing of a law banning the operation and promotion of sweepstakes games, State Senator Joseph Addabbo shared his view that this legislation should act as a stepping stone to regulating iGaming.

“Enacting my bill into law isn’t the final word—it’s a necessary step toward the responsible modernization of New York’s online gaming environment,” Addabbo stated.

“By closing down unsafe, unregulated sweepstakes casinos, New York is reaffirming that any online gaming in the state must be legal, properly regulated, and equipped with strong consumer safeguards.”