February 4, 2026
Dear League Commissioners and Leaders:
As you are certainly aware, recent high-profile incidents involving athletes and gambling have caused significant alarm across the sports and gaming industries. Thankfully, the strong regulatory measures established by regulators to protect the betting public appear to have worked: the schemes were uncovered and the individuals allegedly responsible are being held accountable for their actions.
However, these safeguards alone cannot stop compromised professional athletes – or any individuals - from engaging in nefarious and illegal acts that undermine the integrity of sports gambling. The leagues that oversee the day-to-day activities of their players serve an important role in preserving the integrity of the sport and wagers. You have the ability to provide substantial input regarding the wagering menu.
We have heard sports league leaderships’ call for change. One league commissioner called for the reduction or elimination of certain types of player proposition wagers[1]. Another league sought to implement a cap on the amount wagered on the actions of a specific position[2]. These are positive steps, but more can be done.
In New York, unlike many jurisdictions, the Gaming Commission – not operators – controls the wagering menu and limits the sports and leagues accepted for sports wagering. In fact, most of the specific proposition wagers that a league found problematic were already prohibited in New York State. To ensure the integrity of sports wagering in New York State, the Gaming Commission has been and will continue to be very conservative with the approval of leagues and types of wagers authorized to provide confidence to bettors.
New York State law[3] and our regulations[4] specifically provide sports leagues the ability to seek restriction, limitation or exclusion of certain wagers. Although we have yet to receive any such request from any league, we strongly encourage – and expect – each of your leagues to avail yourselves of this tool, should you have a reasonable belief that such a restriction, exclusion, or limitation would improve wagering integrity. Should we receive such a request, the Commission would act with alacrity – despite the 60-day regulatory timeframe referenced. The most efficient manner to make such a request is by email to [email protected].
The recent allegations, investigations and prosecutions that have come to light have caused the Commission to re-examine all individual player proposition wagers that are game specific, as well as single game specific multi-leg individual player parlays. If our review requires the outright elimination of certain bets, the Gaming Commission will use its regulatory authority to prohibit them.
Finally, from an enforcement and investigatory perspective, it’s important to note that establishing a legal mobile sports wagering account requires an individual to disclose associated records and data to the wagering provider. These breadcrumbs may be readily found by integrity monitors, regulators, law enforcement and others.
New York State stands ready to further discuss the matter and assist in any way to ensure wager and game integrity. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to promote and protect your respective sports, and thereby, the sports betting public.
Sincerely,
New York State Gaming Commissioners
John Crotty
Sylvia Hamer
Marty Mack
Peter Moschetti
Brian O’Dwyer
Jerry Skurnik
[3] New York State Racing Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law section 1367.11 states “A sports governing body may notify the commission that it desires to restrict, limit, or exclude wagering on its sporting events by providing notice in the form and manner as the commission may require. Upon receiving such notice, the commission shall review the request in good faith, seek input from the casinos or mobile sports wagering licensees on such a request, and if the commission deems it appropriate, promulgate regulations to restrict such sports wagering.”
[4] Commission Rule 5329.13(b)(2)(v) states: “A casino sports wagering licensee shall not offer sports wagers on: (v) any sports event on which the commission deems wagering to be contrary to public policy, either on the commission’s own initiative or upon commission affirmation of a request by a league or governing body that governs such sports event, so long as such request has been made in writing to the commission at least 60 days in advance of such sports event with an explanation of why wagering on such event should not be permitted as a matter of public policy.”
