Gaming Commission, New York State

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Agency Web Site: https://www.gaming.ny.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The New York State Gaming Commission's mission is to ensure that all lawful gaming and horse racing activity conducted in this State is of the highest integrity, credibility and quality. Operating in the most efficient and transparent manner, the Commission conducts the New York Lottery and serves the best interests of the public by providing responsive and effective State gaming regulation. The Commission strives to ensure that all stakeholders in the gaming and horse racing industries, including the consumers who wager on activities regulated or operated by the Commission, are treated in an equitable and responsible manner. The Commission is also tasked with promoting the health and safety of horses and all participants in racing. By consolidating various regulatory functions into one oversight body with broad powers, the Commission is able to ensure fair and strict regulation of all gaming activity, while reducing costs and regulatory burdens to the gaming industry. The Commission provides the regulatory structure necessary for New York gaming activity to operate effectively in a global, evolving and increasingly competitive marketplace, to generate revenue for aid to education and for the support of government, and to contribute to overall economic development and job creation in New York.

Organization and Staffing

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the State, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, Class III Indian Gaming, commercial casino gaming, the state lottery (including video lottery terminals), charitable gaming, mobile sports wagering, and interactive fantasy sports. The New York State Gaming Commission was formally created via Chapter 60 of the Laws of 2012 as part of the 2012-13 Enacted State Budget. This measure merged the New York State Racing and Wagering Board with the New York State Division of Lottery, creating a single state agency. The law also consolidated the administration of the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund and the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund into the Office of Racing Promotion and Development under the umbrella of the Gaming Commission. The New York State Gaming Commission became effective February 1, 2013.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends $373.4 million All Funds for the Commission, an increase of $28.5 million in All Funds from FY 2024 levels. The Executive Budget recommends continuing to appropriate $100,000 in State Operations Funds for the Racing Fan Advisory Council, along with a $1.5 million increase to support a new lease agreement and related costs. The Executive Budget recommends an appropriation of $200 million for Tribal State Compact Revenue, which represents the local share of the State's estimated revenues from Native American casinos. In addition, the Executive Budget recommends an appropriation of $62 million, which represents the local share of the State's estimated revenues from commercial gaming revenues.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 396 FTEs for the Commission which is an increase of five FTEs over FY 2024 levels.

Program Highlights

Lottery

The New York Lottery's sole mission is to earn revenue for education. Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other State aid to education. Lottery games include drawings like Numbers, Mega Millions and Powerball and roughly 50 scratch-off tickets.

Charitable Gaming

Charitable gaming occurs in the form of bingo, bell jar sales, the conduct of Las Vegas nights, and operation of raffles. The Division of Charitable Gaming is responsible for the investigation, audit, and monitoring of bell jar ticket sales, as well as verification of the lawful disbursement of bingo, bell jar, Las Vegas night, and raffle proceeds by licensees in New York State. This Division also issues licenses and assists members of authorized organizations, manufacturers, and equipment distributors to comply with State law and Commission rules and regulations.

Gaming

The Division of Gaming oversees the regulation of seven Class III Indian gaming facilities, four commercial gaming facilities, video lottery terminal facilities, and mobile sports wagering operators throughout the State. Gaming inspectors conduct compliance examinations to ensure that gaming operations such as dealing procedures, internal accounting and other controls strictly conform to the applicable provisions of the respective gaming facility.

Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering

The Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering regulates all horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in New York State. New York currently features both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing where pari-mutuel wagering takes place. There are four Thoroughbred tracks and seven Standardbred (harness) tracks in the State. Additionally, bettors may wager on races remotely through any of the State’s five off-track betting corporations. The tracks and off-track betting locations also feature simulcasting of races taking place within and beyond New York’s borders.

Interactive Fantasy Sports

The Division of Interactive Fantasy Sports provides general oversight of permissible fantasy sports contests. Responsibilities also include the investigation of violations, processing and issuing registrations, and processing and auditing regulatory assessments.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2024
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2025
Change From
FY 2024
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2025
State Operations 107,826,000 111,362,000 3,536,000 0
Aid To Localities 237,000,000 262,000,000 25,000,000 0
Total 344,826,000 373,362,000 28,536,000 0

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2024
Estimated FTEs
03/31/24
FY 2025
Estimated FTEs
03/31/25
FTE Change
Administration of the Lottery
Special Revenue Funds - Other 199 199 0
Administration
General Fund 52 52 0
Charitable Gaming
Special Revenue Funds - Other 8 8 0
Gaming
Special Revenue Funds - Other 112 117 5
Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Special Revenue Funds - Other 20 20 0
Total 391 396 5

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2024
Recommended
FY 2025
Change
General Fund 6,109,000 7,728,000 1,619,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 101,717,000 103,634,000 1,917,000
Total 107,826,000 111,362,000 3,536,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2024
Recommended
FY 2025
Change
Administration
General Fund 6,109,000 7,728,000 1,619,000
Administration of the Lottery
Special Revenue Funds - Other 52,850,000 53,824,000 974,000
Charitable Gaming
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,495,000 2,529,000 34,000
Gaming
Special Revenue Funds - Other 26,515,000 27,339,000 824,000
Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Special Revenue Funds - Other 19,705,000 19,788,000 83,000
Interactive Fantasy Sports
Special Revenue Funds - Other 152,000 154,000 2,000
Total 107,826,000 111,362,000 3,536,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 4,100,000 119,000 4,069,000 119,000
Total 4,100,000 119,000 4,069,000 119,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 26,000 0 5,000 0
Total 26,000 0 5,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 3,628,000 1,500,000 400,000 0
Total 3,628,000 1,500,000 400,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 65,000 0 3,143,000 1,500,000
Total 65,000 0 3,143,000 1,500,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 20,000 0
Total 20,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration of the Lottery 53,824,000 974,000 19,795,000 795,000
Charitable Gaming 2,529,000 34,000 917,000 27,000
Gaming 27,339,000 824,000 12,410,000 610,000
Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering 19,788,000 83,000 8,158,000 83,000
Interactive Fantasy Sports 154,000 2,000 62,000 2,000
Total 103,634,000 1,917,000 41,342,000 1,517,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration of the Lottery 34,029,000 179,000
Charitable Gaming 1,612,000 7,000
Gaming 14,929,000 214,000
Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering 11,630,000 0
Interactive Fantasy Sports 92,000 0
Total 62,292,000 400,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2024
Recommended
FY 2025
Change
Special Revenue Funds - Other 237,000,000 262,000,000 25,000,000
Total 237,000,000 262,000,000 25,000,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2024
Recommended
FY 2025
Change
Gaming
Special Revenue Funds - Other 62,000,000 62,000,000 0
Tribal State Compact Revenue
Special Revenue Funds - Other 175,000,000 200,000,000 25,000,000
Total 237,000,000 262,000,000 25,000,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024