New York’s gaming regulator is telling sports leagues to stop lobbying in public and start filing paperwork. In a Feb. 4 letter, the New York State Gaming Commission said leagues can ask the state to restrict, limit, or exclude wager types, but none has done so yet.
The message lands, as betting integrity cases keep piling up and as prop-style markets stay the easiest place for bad information to turn into money.
A public challenge to “do it formally”
New York’s setup is unusual. The commission, not sportsbooks, controls what bet types can be offered in the state.
In the letter, commissioners said league leaders have publicly called for reducing or eliminating certain player prop bets, but added that state law and regulations already give leagues a path to request changes in writing. The commission said it would move fast even with a standard 60-day regulatory window.
Props and same-game prop parlays move into review
The commission said it is re-examining all game-specific individual player prop bets and single-game, multi-leg player prop parlays. It signaled it will use its authority to prohibit bets if its review shows they raise unacceptable risk.
New York’s own guidance draws a line between props based on official statistics and wagers with a “negative implication” that a single player could influence. Those are the markets that tend to get extra scrutiny.
Why leagues are tightening the prop conversation
The letter pointed to recent league moves as examples of the direction of travel. The NCAA has urged states to eliminate individual prop bets and other high-risk props, including first-half unders. MLB, working with sportsbook partners, announced a $200 cap on pitch-level markets and removed those bets from parlays.
New York’s point is blunt: if leagues believe a market is too risky, they should name the wagers they want restricted and explain why. Otherwise, the state will keep making its own calls as it reviews the menu.
