New York Bill A9343 proposes a ban on live sports betting

• Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal introduces legislation to eliminate all in-play wagering at New York sportsbooks.
• Proposal responds to MLB pitch-fixing scandal involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers and NBA prop bet controversies.
• Potential ban could significantly reduce state tax revenue from sports betting market that generated record $23.94 billion in handle during FY 2024-25.

New York Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal has introduced Bill A9343 seeking to prohibit all live sports betting at licensed operators throughout the state, marking one of the most restrictive legislative proposals targeting the rapidly growing in-play wagering segment.

The bill, introduced 10 December 2025 and referred to the Committee on Racing and Wagering, would remove “in-play bets” from New York’s legal definition of sports wagering.

If passed by both legislative chambers and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, the changes would take effect immediately.

Integrity concerns drive legislative action

The proposal emerges following high-profile sports betting scandals that rocked professional sports in 2025. Federal prosecutors in November indicted Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for allegedly rigging specific pitches to manipulate proposition bets.

According to the indictment unsealed in Brooklyn federal court, Clase coordinated with sports bettors from May 2023 through July 2025 to fix pitch outcomes, receiving bribes ranging from $5,000 to $7,000 per rigged pitch. Prosecutors allege the scheme enabled bettors to win at least $460,000 through fraudulent wagers on pitch-level markets.

Both pitchers pleaded not guilty to the charges and are scheduled to stand trial on 4 May 2026 before Judge Kiyo Matsumoto.

“There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning,” said Chris Georgalis, Ortiz’s attorney.

The scandal prompted MLB to implement immediate safeguards in November 2025, capping individual pitch-level wagers at $200 and banning parlays involving these bets.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated:

“I commend Ohio Governor DeWine for his leadership on this issue over the last several months. I also commend the industry for working with us to take action on a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets, which are particularly vulnerable to integrity concerns.”

The NBA also faced similar controversies in 2025. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former player Damon Jones were arrested in October on charges relating to gambling schemes involving insider information and rigged poker games.

Billion-dollar revenue implications

In-play betting represents a substantial portion of sports wagering activity. According to Genius Sports data cited by Legal Sports Report, 74% of total handle through its BetVision platform during the early NFL season came from in-play wagers, illustrating the segment’s dominance in modern sports betting.

New York generated a record $23.94 billion in sports betting handle during fiscal year 2024-25 (April 2024-March 2025), with the state on pace to surpass $24 billion for calendar year 2025. Industry analysts estimate live betting drives approximately $10 billion of that annual volume.

Mobile sportsbooks have generated over $1.19 billion in tax revenue for New York in 2025 under the state’s 51% sportsbook tax rate, the highest in the United States. October 2025 alone produced $121.8 million in state tax revenue from a record $2.64 billion in handle.

In her legislative justification, Rosenthal wrote:

“New York state has an obligation to protect consumers and address concerning public health trends.”

However, the removal of in-play betting would likely result in significant fiscal impact, potentially reducing state tax revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Companion bills target player rights and advertising

Bill A9343 represents one of several legislative proposals aimed at reforming New York’s sports betting framework. Bill A9125 would prevent sportsbooks from limiting or banning bettors simply for winning consistently, a practice operators have defended as necessary for risk management.

Bill A7962, introduced in April 2025, proposes restrictions on account funding frequency and would limit when sports betting advertisements can air, reflecting broader concerns about gambling promotion and accessibility.

The legislative package represents Albany’s attempt to balance consumer protection, market fairness, and revenue interests as the state reassesses its regulatory approach to sports wagering.

Industry opposition expected

The proposed ban extends beyond micro-bets on individual moments—such as specific pitches—to encompass all wagers placed after a sporting event begins. This would eliminate in-game spreads, totals, and other live markets that have become standard offerings for US sportsbooks.

Industry stakeholders face a substantial threat to their business models. Live betting drives user engagement, retention strategies, and profit margins for operators who have invested heavily in low-latency data feeds and micro-market coverage.

Critics warn that eliminating legal in-play options could push New York bettors towards unregulated offshore platforms or prediction markets, potentially reducing state oversight whilst failing to address problem gambling effectively.

Broader regulatory trend

New York’s proposal joins growing legislative momentum across the region to restrict certain betting products. New Jersey lawmakers have introduced separate bills targeting micro-bets specifically, whilst Ohio regulators have considered banning proposition bets on professional athletes following restrictions already implemented for collegiate sports.

The language of Bill A9343 leaves some uncertainty regarding its precise scope. The legislation removes “in-play bets” from authorised wagering activities but does not explicitly address the term “in-game wagering,” which also appears in state racing and wagering law.

The only definition in section 1367 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is “in-play sports wager,” defined as a bet placed on a sports event after the event has begun and before it ends. This definition could ostensibly apply to both terms, creating ambiguity about whether removing one term whilst leaving the other would achieve the bill’s stated purpose.

Legal experts suggest this ambiguity could complicate implementation if the bill advances, though the ultimate intent appears to broadly curtail all forms of betting that occur after events commence.

Legislative outlook

Bill A9343 currently resides with the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee. Given New York’s substantial reliance on sports betting tax revenue—which funds education and other state priorities—the proposal faces formidable opposition from fiscal conservatives, industry operators, and sports leagues.

New York State Gaming Commission chair Brian O’Dwyer has noted that:

“In New York State, the Gaming Commission – not sports wagering operators – controls the wagering menu and limits the sports and leagues accepted for sports wagering. Functionally, this gives those leagues substantial input regarding the wagering menu.”

This regulatory structure gives the commission substantial authority over betting products, though legislative action would still be required to implement a comprehensive live betting ban.

The 2026 legislative session, beginning in January, will determine whether lawmakers prioritise consumer protection measures over revenue considerations.

Supporters argue the bill enhances oversight and protects game integrity, whilst opponents contend it would harm market competitiveness and push bettors to unregulated alternatives.

Whether the bill serves as a negotiating tool to implement narrower protective measures or advances as proposed will depend on legislative dynamics and stakeholder negotiations throughout the session.