New York lawmakers are reviewing a bill that would stop online sports bets from being placed on college campuses. The proposal would require licensed mobile sportsbooks to use geofencing technology around campus areas.
Senate Bill 10470 was introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes. It is now with the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.
Bill targets campus locations
The bill would require mobile sports wagering operators to block bets from users physically located on college or university grounds. Sportsbooks already use geolocation tools to confirm that users are inside New York before accepting bets.
Under the proposal, colleges would work with the New York State Gaming Commission by providing geographic data for campus boundaries. That information would help operators set restricted zones more accurately. The measure would not ban students from having sportsbook accounts. It would instead block wagering activity when a user is located on covered campus property.
Student gambling concerns drive proposal
The bill comes as lawmakers and regulators give more attention to gambling risks among young adults. College students are a key concern because many are old enough to bet but still seen as more vulnerable to gambling harm.
New York already bans bets on in-state college teams and college events taking place in the state. The new proposal would add a location-based limit for mobile betting.
That would put the focus on campus access, rather than only the teams or events being wagered on. It would also apply to all licensed online sportsbooks operating in the state.
Compliance date would follow quickly
If passed, the bill would require operators to comply by Aug. 1. That would give sportsbooks a short timeline to add campus geofencing controls.
The change would likely depend on accurate campus maps and coordination between colleges, operators and the Gaming Commission. Large campuses with public roads, hospitals or shared-use buildings could make boundary setting more complex.
New York keeps adding betting safeguards
New York has one of the largest mobile sports betting markets in the United States. That scale has kept lawmakers focused on advertising, youth exposure, problem gambling tools and operator conduct. Other proposals in the state have targeted sportsbook notifications, prediction markets and betting promotions. The campus geofencing bill adds another rule for where mobile bets can be placed.
