The gambling authority in New York is analyzing all player proposition wagers and same-game parlays, possibly aiming to ban specific betting types, due to issues related to betting scandals and the necessity to uphold sports integrity.
The New York State Gaming Commission, in a publicly available letter to sports leagues released on Wednesday, announced that its review of specific player prop bets and single-game, multi-leg parlays is underway, and invited leagues to formally propose any bets they find concerning for integrity reasons.
“Recent allegations, investigations, and prosecutions have prompted the Commission to reassess all game-specific individual player proposition bets and multi-leg parlays within single games,” the letter stated. “Should our evaluation lead to the outright removal of certain wagers, the Gaming Commission is prepared to utilize its regulatory powers to ban them.”
Signed by Chair Brian O’Dwyer and the other commissioners, the letter referenced notable investigations related to betting and game manipulation in U.S. sports, though specific cases were not mentioned. The commission emphasized that while regulatory oversight has revealed misconduct, sports leagues must contribute significantly by offering “considerable feedback regarding the wagering landscape.”
New York holds the title for the largest legal sports betting market in the U.S., both in terms of handle and revenue, and regulates which sports, leagues, and types of bets are allowed. State laws and NYSGC regulations permit leagues to advocate for limitations, restrictions, or exclusions on particular wagers.
“We strongly encourage – and expect – each league to take advantage of this opportunity if you believe that a restriction, exclusion, or limitation would enhance betting integrity,” the letter stated. “If we receive such a recommendation, the Commission will act swiftly – regardless of the referenced 60-day regulatory timeline.”
This outreach follows a review that commenced last year. In November, O’Dwyer indicated that the NYSGC had tasked its staff to evaluate the appropriateness of all game-specific player props and same-game player parlays, soliciting input from more than 70 leagues regarding potential wagering limits.
A preliminary staff assessment identified only one of the 104 NFL player prop bets authorized in New York as a potential concern. “In fact,” the letter mentioned, “most of the specific prop bets that a league flagged as problematic were already outlawed in New York.”
“To maintain the integrity of sports betting in New York, the Gaming Commission has remained and will continue to be very cautious regarding the approval of leagues and types of bets allowed to engender trust among bettors,” it noted.
Other regulatory bodies in the U.S. are observing similar matters. The Ohio Casino Control Commission indicated last year that it was considering reviewing its betting catalog, but later warned that enforcing new regulations might hamper discussions with stakeholders, while retaining the right to intervene if necessary.
In New York, this call to action from the regulator comes amid legislative proposals aimed at further constraining betting markets. One proposed bill seeks to exclude in-play bets from the legal definition of authorized sports wagering, while another aims to limit betting solely to final outcomes, scores, or winners of sporting events.