Online sports gambling operators licensed in New York could soon be prohibited from “providing counseling, therapy, and treatment services for bettors in New York,” according to a new policy proposal.
The legislation, A9146, seeks to address a “potential conflict” involving betting apps and certain addiction treatment providers.
Current NY Law
Under current law, online sports gambling apps must provide links to and contact information for New York’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) on their websites and platforms.
According to the bill memo, the platforms can also advertise, promote, and make referrals for counseling services to practitioners who are not credentialed by OASAS, not located in New York, and not provided at no cost.
In the memo, NY Assemblymember Carrie Woerner (D–113th Dist.), the sponsor of the legislation, wrote that the current law is problematic for people with addiction:
“It also allows mobile sports operators to advertise and promote organizations and entities that provide counseling and therapy services that the mobile sports operators may have a financial relationship with. This presents a potential conflict between the mobile sports operator’s interest in generating revenue by the number of bets placed and lost versus an individual’s need for help to limit or stop gambling.”
Proposed Law Change
A9146 would amend existing law related to wagering to include the following language:
… “when providing information regarding compulsive play, all links and referrals for counseling, therapy or treatment services shall direct account holders to the problem gambling services webpage maintained by the office of addiction services and supports. The mobile sports wagering operator shall not advertise or promote any other organization or entity that provides counseling, therapy, or treatment services for compulsive play. Nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit the mobile sports wagering operator from providing responsible gaming tools, including deposit limits, wager limits, time limits, and voluntary self-exclusion.”
What is OASAS?
OASAS is New York’s designated state agency for addiction services, including problem gambling.
It oversees an addiction services system with more than 1,700 prevention, treatment, and recovery programs for New York residents. Services are available regardless of ability to pay.
Call 1-877-846-7369 (HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467-369) if you need help in New York.
Current law does not require private insurers to cover problem gambling treatment provided by OASAS-certified treatment programs unless the person also has an associated substance use disorder.
Senate Bill S8352, introduced in June 2025, seeks to close that coverage gap.
Bigger Picture
The legislation, A9146, could impact a company such as Tennessee-based Kindbridge Behavioral Health, which has partnerships involving telehealth with FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
New York is the nation’s largest sports gambling market, with online sportsbooks raking in approximately $6.5 billion from residents between 2022 and 2025.
The state is at the forefront of numerous potential policy reforms to address worsening online gambling addiction in the U.S. Half of online sports bettors experience moderate to severe issues with their gambling, according to a recent Maryland study.
The public’s perception of legal betting is also deteriorating, with nearly half of men under 30 believing that the industry is a “bad thing for society,” according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
In New York, policymakers have looked at implementing guardrails around advertising, artificial intelligence, push notifications, promotional bonuses, and more.
In early November, a New York policymaker introduced legislation to regulate so-called prediction markets, a new and controversial form of online sports gambling that operates under federal certification.
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
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