Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee advances four bills on bingo, lottery and sports wagering

At the committee’s first meeting of the 2026 session, New York State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee Chair Senator Joe Adabo advanced four bills intended to tighten consumer protections and clarify rules around gaming and lotteries in New York.

"As we work together, to really see what we can do in terms of expanding gaming, in New York in a very methodical, safe way," Adabo said, adding that the panel would focus on revenue, jobs and "protecting the consumer, certainly in terms of, addiction." The committee heard bill titles and voted by voice to move each measure forward.

The most notable measures the panel advanced were:

• Minors and bingo: A measure read as "26 11 Adabo, an act to amend the General Municipal Law in relation to participation in games of bingo by minors." Chair Adabo noted the bill "passed the senate in bipartisan support last year, 55 to 5." The committee recorded a motion, a second and a voice vote; the chair said the bill "has enough votes to pass and move on." The committee will send the bill on for further consideration.

• Lottery winners’ anonymity: A bill read as "26 13 Adabo, an act to amend the Tax Law in relation to requiring the state to keep state lottery winners' identities anonymous to the general public unless the lottery winner gives their consent." Adabo described the proposal as "an effort to protect the consumers." The committee approved a motion to move the bill.

• Unsold instant lottery tickets: A bill read as "69 70 Adabo, an act to amend the Tax Law in relation to unsold instant lottery game tickets." Adabo said the measure responds to situations in which unsold tickets remain on shelves after a store closes and can give consumers the mistaken impression that major prizes are still available; the bill would allow the lottery division to redistribute those tickets from closed stores to stores that remain open. The committee moved the bill by voice vote.

• Minors and sports wagering: A bill listed as "79 0 8, Gennardis, an act to amend the bracing, parameatal wagering, and breeding law in relation to preventing minors from participating in sports wagering" was also introduced. Chair Adabo noted the topic had been mentioned by the governor in the state address. After a motion and second, the committee moved the bill on to the finance committee.

Votes at a glance

- 26 11 (bingo/minors): Motion moved and approved by voice; Chair said it had sufficient support to proceed. (Transcript records prior full Senate passage as 55–5 last year.) - 26 13 (lottery anonymity): Motion moved and approved by voice; Chair described it as consumer protection. (Transcript records prior full Senate passage as 59–2 last year.) - 69 70 (unsold instant tickets): Motion moved and approved by voice; described by chair as allowing redistribution of tickets from closed stores to open stores. - 79 0 8 (minors and sports wagering): Motion moved and approved by voice; referred to finance committee for further review.

What the committee recorded and next steps

All four items were read into the record, motions were made and seconded, and the measures were advanced by voice vote; the transcript records chair statements that each bill had the votes necessary to move forward. The measures will proceed to the next committees identified by the chair (including finance for the sports wagering bill). The meeting included introductions of staff — the chair introduced his committee director, Hannah Sargent, legal counsel and fiscal staff — but the transcript records no substantive amendments or roll-call tallies in committee. The committee did not record named roll-call votes in the transcript; the minutes reflect voice approvals and motions to advance.

The committee’s next procedural step will be consideration of these bills in the committees to which they were referred and any subsequent floor action. The transcript does not record final passage of these bills beyond the committee motions to move them forward.