New York lawmakers target live betting and player props amid athlete harassment concerns
New York legislators are pushing bills to restrict live betting and certain player props, aiming to reduce athlete harassment and integrity risks tied to gambling
New York legislators are looking to limit athlete harassment tied to gambling outright with Assembly Bill 7903. Lawmakers are also increasingly moving to restrict specific betting products they believe are fueling the problem, particularly live, in-play wagering and individual player proposition bets.
Several bills introduced in recent legislative sessions reflect a growing concern that modern betting formats place undue pressure on athletes, especially college players, and create risks to both player safety and game integrity.
Rather than just criminalizing harassment directly, legislators are attempting to remove the betting incentives that often trigger abusive behavior from gamblers.
Bills Focus on Live Betting and Micro-Markets
One of the most notable proposals is Assembly Bill 9343, reintroduced by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, which would prohibit sportsbooks from accepting wagers after a game has begun.
The bill specifically targets:
- In-play (live) betting
- Micro-betting, such as wagers on the next play, possession or individual action
Supporters argue that these betting formats intensify emotional reactions and create near-instant feedback loops that encourage bettors to direct anger at athletes in real time, often via social media.
Live betting also allows gamblers to focus obsessively on isolated moments, increasing the likelihood that individual players, rather than teams, become targets when outcomes swing.
Player Prop Bets Under Growing Scrutiny
Lawmakers are also zeroing in on player proposition bets, particularly those tied to individual statistical performancerather than team results.
While New York has not enacted a universal ban on player props in sports betting, the state has already taken steps in related areas:
- Daily Fantasy Sports regulations restrict certain individual performance props
- Proposed legislation would further limit or eliminate player-specific wagering viewed as high-risk
Legislators and regulators increasingly view individual player bets as a primary driver of athlete harassment, especially at the college level where athletes are unpaid or lightly compensated and more vulnerable to outside pressure.
Why This Is Happening Now
Rising Athlete Harassment
The NCAA, athletes and advocacy groups have reported a surge in harassment directed at players over missed shots, turnovers or stat-based outcomes tied to bets. College athletes, in particular, have described receiving abusive messages from gamblers blaming them for losing wagers.
Game Integrity Concerns
Live betting and player props create more opportunities for manipulation or coercion, especially when outcomes hinge on a single play or statistic. Lawmakers argue that restricting these markets reduces both temptation and exposure.
Recent Gambling Scandals
High-profile betting scandals involving athletes and insider wagering have accelerated legislative urgency. While most incidents involve a small number of individuals, lawmakers say the risk profile has changed dramatically in the era of mobile wagering and instant bets.
Governor’s Position and Political Climate
Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed support for policies aimed at reducing young people’s exposure to addictive gambling products and protecting student-athletes from harassment and pressure.
Rather than rolling back legalized sports betting, the governor and lawmakers have emphasized product-level reforms, reshaping what sportsbooks are allowed to offer rather than eliminating betting altogether.
This approach mirrors broader national discussions about balancing consumer choice with athlete welfare and integrity safeguards.
What These Bills Would and Would Not Do
What they would do:
- Reduce or eliminate betting formats most closely tied to athlete harassment
- Limit direct wagering on individual player performance
- Decrease real-time emotional betting that fuels abusive behavior
What they would not do:
- Criminalize harassment directly
- Ban sports betting as a whole
- Eliminate all proposition bets across all sports
The strategy is preventative rather than punitive, aimed at removing incentives that lead to harassment rather than policing speech itself.
What Comes Next
Bills targeting live betting and player props will continue moving through committee discussions in 2026, with lawmakers weighing:
- Industry pushback from sportsbooks
- Enforcement feasibility
- Whether similar restrictions should apply to professional and college sports equally
Even if no single bill passes intact, the direction is clear: New York lawmakers are increasingly skeptical of betting products that isolate athletes and magnify abuse.
Regulating the Incentive, Not the Behavior
New York’s legislative push reflects a broader philosophical shift in sports betting policy. Rather than attempting to police harassment directly, lawmakers are focusing on the betting structures that create the conditions for abuse.
By targeting live wagering and risky player props, the state hopes to protect athletes, preserve game integrity and reduce the darker side effects of an increasingly digital, instant-reaction gambling ecosystem, without dismantling legalized sports betting itself.
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