New York Eyes Campus Sports Betting Limits

New York lawmakers are reviewing legislation that would prevent online sports betting on college campuses throughout the state by requiring sportsbooks to use geofencing technology.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced Senate Bill S10470 as part of a broader push to reduce gambling exposure among young adults and strengthen consumer protections tied to online wagering. The proposal would prohibit online sports betting operators and platform providers from accepting bets from users located on college property in New York.

If approved, sportsbooks would need to comply with the restrictions by Aug. 1, 2027.

Gounardes said the measure focuses on limiting access to gambling in environments intended for education and student development.

“My bill doesn’t ban legal sports betting. Instead, it creates a clear, specific safeguard focused on a population we know needs it. The same way colleges restrict alcohol, tobacco, and other potentially harmful activities on campus to protect students, we can do the same here. Many sports betting platforms already use geolocation and geofencing to block activity in unauthorized locations. My bill uses this same proven approach to create a campus boundary standard. By keeping gambling off campuses, we can help ensure they stay spaces focused on learning instead of financial risk-taking,” Gounardes told Sports Betting Dime.

The legislation currently sits before the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Proposed Restrictions Would Require Geofencing

Under the bill, online sportsbooks operating in New York would have to implement geolocation and geofencing systems capable of identifying and blocking wagering activity on college campuses.

The proposal applies to all licensed online sports betting operators and platform providers in the state. New York currently has nine licensed operators, with eight actively offering online wagering services.

Gounardes included technical compliance language in the bill that outlines the responsibilities for operators.

“All mobile sports wagering operators and platform providers shall, on or before August first, two thousand twenty-seven, implement geolocation and geofencing technology to ensure compliance with the provisions of subdivision two of this section. Such technology shall be capable of reasonably detecting and preventing wagering activity occurring on the property described herein,” Gounardes wrote in the bill.

Colleges and universities would also play a role in enforcing the restrictions. Institutions would need to work with the New York State Gaming Commission by providing geographic data and campus boundary information to help operators accurately establish restricted betting zones.

The bill also introduces civil penalties for operators that fail to comply, although the proposal does not specify the exact fines or enforcement measures that could be imposed.

A companion bill has also been introduced in the New York Assembly. Assemblymembers Rebecca Kassay and Deborah Glick filed Assembly Bill 10526, which is expected to be reviewed by the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee.

Lawmakers Continue Consumer Protection Push

The proposal arrives during a year in which New York lawmakers and regulators have introduced several measures tied to responsible gambling and consumer safeguards.

Gounardes has already introduced another bill earlier this year called the “Sports Wagering and Minors Act.” That legislation, identified as S7908, would require operators to strengthen age verification systems and allow parents to register personal data to prevent minors from using it to open betting accounts.

“My Sports Wagering and Minors Act holds companies accountable and gives parents new tools to keep kids safe. There’s no reason to gamble with our children’s well-being,” Gounardes said after introducing the proposal.

The senator has repeatedly pointed to research involving gambling addiction among younger adults as part of his reasoning for additional protections.

“The truth is young people are especially vulnerable when it comes to gambling abuse. The data is clear: Americans 18-24 struggle with gambling addiction at a rate two to three times higher than the general population. We owe it to young people to offer fair protections that keep them safe,” he said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has also publicly called for stronger restrictions aimed at protecting minors from online gambling exposure. During her state of the state address earlier this year, Hochul encouraged lawmakers to develop additional safeguards surrounding sports betting, online gaming, and social media access for minors.

“Let’s block location-sharing and let’s do more to cut off access to online sports gambling so our kids are not ensnared by addiction at a young age,” she said.

Other legislative efforts in New York this year have included proposals requiring monthly sportsbook account activity statements, restrictions on proxy betting, enhanced fraud monitoring systems, and possible limits on the use of artificial intelligence in personalized sportsbook promotions.

Sen. Jeremy Zellner has also proposed forming a task force to study prop betting practices through Senate Bill 10153.

Similar Proposal Faced Resistance in Maryland

A comparable effort emerged in Maryland in 2024 when Delegate Pamela Queen introduced House Bill 1087 to prohibit online gambling on college campuses.

That proposal also relied on geolocation technology but failed to move beyond a first reading in committee.

Towson University opposed the Maryland bill and argued that enforcing geofencing restrictions across campuses was “not technically feasible.” The university also raised concerns involving location accuracy, ethics, and the use of private networks.

New York lawmakers continue to evaluate whether geofencing requirements can serve as a practical way to limit student access to online sports betting while maintaining the state’s legal wagering market.