Could New York Gambling Authorities Ban Live Betting

A legislative session in New York on gambling policy which brought up legalizing online casinos, problem gambling frameworks, advertising protocols and betting limits looks mainly positive for gamers and sports bettors. However, the regulatory push has also called into question in-play sports wagers, or live bets, and lawmakers now seek to ban this popular form of betting from licensed NY sportsbooks.

This would represent one of the biggest changes in the New York sports betting landscape, and it could be extremely detrimental to sports bettors. While pregame bets are still more predominant than live bets, these types of wagers have risen in popularity across North America. Many betting strategies and professional tipsters use live bets, and cutting off these bets entirely would both damage revenue for sportsbooks and thus the state, as well as limit the betting opportunities for sports fans. This highly contentious amendment was introduced on January 7, and while it has not yet made the Senate Floor yet, it is one of the most provocative regulatory notions in recent history. The other big danger if that, if passed, will there be a greater movement across the US?

The Positives of the Legislative Session

The initial sentiment around the legislative sessions on January 7 was hopeful. Discussions were held about New York legalizing online casinos, and 2 bills were introduced with a drafted framework of how that would look. These outlined tax rates, responsible gambling laws, and a generous licensing framework would create a highly competitive iGaming market.

Beyond that, lawmakers also talked about loosening strict betting limits, potentially even eliminating them. This would have the maximum wager caps removed, allowing professional bettors and high rollers alike to go bolder with their wagers. Right now, sportsbooks have the autonomy to create their own maximum wager size. The biggest sportsbooks in the US can have maximum caps of up to $1 million for the most popular US sports, such as NFL, NBA, and MLB. However, the maximum payout is generally much smaller for niche sports and betting markets.

Advertising restrictions and responsible gambling legislation is something that authorities are constantly working on, and now just in NY. These sessions are aimed at restricting advertising exposure and also regulating the responsible gambling organizations that sportsbooks work with.

So it was generally quite productive for online gamers and sports bettors in New York. Apart from the lawmakers targeting live betting, they are introducing measures that would have this popular type of betting banned at all licensed NY sportsbooks.

New York Contemplates Legality of Live Bets

Assembly Bill A9343 was introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal back at the beginning of December, but it was brought up again at the recent Assembly, was made Active, and will now be taken to the Senate. The bill seeks to amend subdivision 4-a of Section 1367 of New York’s Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law. It reads, on the New York State Senate site:

“The commission shall prohibit any casino, mobile sports wagering licensee, or mobile sports wagering operator from accepting in-play sports wagers from sports bettors in this state.”

The division that describes in-play betting in the original laws is put in brackets, indicating that live betting will be removed from the law and made illegal. Right now, there are no limitations on live bets in New York. In fact, the state doesn’t have much to limit bettors, apart from restrictions on college sports betting. If you are in New York, you cannot place college props bets, or bet on any in-state collegiate teams.

Recent MLB Props Bet Limitations

Banning specific types of bets or markets is not completely unheard of. College sports betting is generally either fully allowed, allowed but without in-state teams or props involved, or completely banned in states with legal sports betting. Then, there are sports/events in which the outcome is determined by a panel or a judge. These are also contentious in some states (not all states allow betting on awards, sports in the Olympics, or gameshows and cultural events).

These constraints are generally determined when the state legalizes sports betting. They are part of the first legislation that all licensed sportsbooks comply with. Amending those first laws, like some New York lawmakers want to do now, is rare. But not unheard of.

You can draw a similar comparison to the Major League Baseball limits on micro betting, where new $200 win caps were introduced on select player props. This was made in response to a massive MLB insider betting scandal that rocked 2025, and saw the MLB organization pull the strings to limit micro bets, specifically in-play or live betting markets like next play bets or minute markets. The big difference here is that the state authorities did not introduce that ban, but rather the sports organization. With its influence, the MLB got FanDuel, Fanatics, DraftKings and many of the other top US sportsbooks affiliated with the league to introduce $200 win caps on micro bets and restrict them from parlays.

Why Live Betting is So Popular

Lawmakers have had concerns with microbetting for some time now, New Jersey even started a session to ban microbetting. Live betting, though, has been around for longer and is the more popular of the two genres of betting.

It is no secret that live betting is a growing trend among NFL, NBA, and fans of other top sports across America. The odds on these bets are constantly moving; any small impact in the game can change them, and they can produce massive opportunities for bettors.

A lot of bettors use live bets because of the feeling of control that they can induce. For pregame bets, you are measuring betting odds, analyzing statistics, and looking for possible openings where the odds may be mispriced or the sportsbooks underestimate the real chances of a bet winning. With live bets, you can look at the game stats and get a wide range of metrics for your next bets. So can the sportsbooks. But you can go one more step. You can get a feel for the game, analyzing how well the team has prepared for the game, whether there are any players who don’t look confident, and use your expert hunch to make informed decisions based on those.

Are Live Bets More Addictive?

This illusion of control can also backfire, though, and heavily. Lawmakers, like the ones in New York, reason that these types of bets can be more addictive than simple pregame bets. It is one of the central arguments against live betting, as bettors are more inclined to make quick decisions, potentially gambling impulsively, and there is less time to do risk management.

The critics will say these types of bets are highly repetitive, the odds go up and down in cycles, and they appeal to the emotional side of sports fans rather than the rational. You could draw comparisons with the cycles and instant gratification design of a slot machine. That is not to say that live betting is more risky than pregame wagering. But the way live betting works can promote riskier behaviors, create more emotionally charged betting, and possibly impact the psychology of losing.

If you lose a bet, which one are you more likely to follow up and bet again after: the pregame bet or the live bet?

Live Betting Ties to Sports Betting Scandals

Addiction is one of the main reasons for New York to reconsider live bets, but that is not the sole driving force here. The other is the high-profile betting scandals that rocked 2025. The NBA betting scandal with Chauncey Billups and current Miami Heat player Terry Rozier was a massive turning point that questioned the integrity of the NBA. It came after two current MLB baseball pitchers were found guilty of rigging bets on their pitches.

The Rutgers scandal, which involved college athletes, brought scrutiny on the NCAA and college sports, which are highly susceptible to insider betting and match fixing. The NCAA even lobbied for the US to allow college athletes to bet on pro sports, as a means to bring them more educational materials and resources to combat underage gambling.

Unfortunately, live betting and micro bets, or niche player props, are all, by nature, vulnerable to fixing and scandals. Though there is little evidence to support the notion that banning live betting would help prevent these scandals. If New York were to go ahead and outlaw live bets, it would become the first major US jurisdiction to do so. The proposed amendment would have live bets banned straight away, and so sportsbooks in New York would have to close these markets instantly.

Legislative Sessions Going Forward

The backlash would be monumental among sportsbook operators, as in-play bets are among the most popular and used types of wagers. And that is not regarding the reaction from consumers, as sports fans may decide to take their business elsewhere. Namely, to sportsbooks that are not based in the US, and this could result in lost revenue for the state of New York. We aren’t there yet, and there is a chance New Yorkers won’t be cut off from live bets at all. For now, live betting is still offered in New York. Typically, bills of this nature must pass both chambers, and before the session ends in June of this year. There is a chance between now and then that the bill will be approved and furthered, or blocked. If no decision is reached by June, then the bill will expire, and can only be reintroduced next year.

Only time will tell whether or not this amendment to New York’s sports betting law will pass. But one thing is for sure. Operators, sports fans, and even lawmakers from other states will all keep a watchful eye to see how this proposal proceeds.