Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee advances four gambling-related bills at first 2025 meeting

At its first meeting of 2025, the New York State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, chaired by Senator Joe O'Dabo, moved four bills forward addressing lottery-winner privacy, season-long proposition bets, a jockey health insurance reserve fund and an extension of the state Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund law.

The committee chair, Senator Joe O'Dabo, said the committee oversees the state's gaming industry, which he described as generating “an average of $5,000,000,000 in revenue every year.” He framed the session around the committee's fiscal role and the state's interest in expanding gaming “in a very rational, safe manner.”

The first bill read on the agenda, S2613 (listed in the transcript as “s 26 13 by senator Adabo”), would amend the tax law to require the state to keep lottery winners' identities anonymous to the general public unless the winner gives consent. The committee record indicates the bill previously passed the Senate last year with bipartisan support; members moved the bill and it was advanced to the Senate calendar. The transcript states the committee is “actively looking for an assembly” sponsor or companion bill.

The second bill, S2616 (“s 26 16 by senator Adaba” in the transcript), would amend the Racing, Pari‑Mutuel Wagering, and Breeding Law to allow season‑long proposition bets and futures on award winners as authorized bets. Committee members moved this bill and voted to advance it to the Finance Committee.

The third bill, S2618 (“s 26 18 by senator Adabo”), would amend the Racing, Pari‑Mutuel Wagering, and Breeding Law to create (the transcript phrase) the Jockey Health Insurance Reserve Fund. On the record, Senator Connery moved the bill, Senator Sanders seconded, and the committee voted to move the measure to the calendar.

The final item, S3579 (recorded as “s 35 79 by senator Dabo”), would amend chapter 473 of the Laws of 2010 relating to the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund to extend its effectiveness; the committee moved the extension to the calendar.

Committee discussion recorded in the transcript was brief and largely supportive. Members referenced the sector's contribution to state revenue and noted the committee's aim to expand gaming while addressing affordability and safety. No roll-call vote with individual yes/no tallies appears in the transcript for these agenda items; the meeting record shows each bill was moved and advanced as described above. Several bills were described as having had bipartisan support during prior consideration in the Senate.

Next steps noted in the meeting record: S2616 was sent to the Finance Committee; the other bills were advanced to the Senate calendar for further consideration. The transcript does not record specific Assembly companions, appropriation amounts, enactment timelines, or detailed amendments beyond the titles and stated purposes of the bills.