New York Reviews Ban on Billboard Gambling Promotions

(AsiaGameHub) –   New York legislators are considering new laws that would eliminate billboard advertisements for potentially addictive and harmful substances or activities. Two separate bills aim to achieve the same outcome—banning gambling ads on billboards—through different legislative approaches.

New Bills to Ban Billboard Ads Promoting Gambling, Alcohol & Nicotine Products

State Senator Nathalia Fernandez has introduced Senate Bills 10400 and 10401, both targeting stricter regulations on advertising for products and services deemed potentially harmful. These include gambling and sports betting, as well as tobacco, nicotine, vaping devices, and alcoholic beverages.

The two bills were filed in the Senate on May 15 and are currently under review by the Committee on Consumer Protection. If passed, either bill would add a new provision to New York’s general business law specifically addressing billboard advertising for the listed products and services.

SB 10400 would prohibit individuals, companies, and advertisers from displaying or maintaining billboard ads related to gambling, sports betting, nicotine products, vapes, and alcohol. The ban would apply to both conventional and digital billboards.

The legislation would also extend to advertising for gambling-related services, including bookmaking, betting exchanges, wagering pools, and other forms of placing bets.

While SB 10400 calls for an immediate ban, SB 10401 would allow a phased implementation, permitting current ads to remain until their existing contracts expire.

Furthermore, once an ad is taken down and no replacement is posted, local authorities would be required to display a public notice highlighting the health risks associated with the previously advertised product.

Although one bill mandates an abrupt change and the other a gradual phase-out, both would become effective immediately upon approval.

New York Could Create a Task Force to Study Under Bets

In a related development, New York lawmakers have proposed new legislation to examine proposition bets, with special attention on under bets. The measure, introduced in late April, would establish a dedicated task force to investigate the issue and assess whether additional regulatory steps are warranted.

The proposal is detailed in SB 10153 and emerges amid growing concerns over prop bets, which are wagers placed on specific in-game events.