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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2026 Agenda Includes Several Responsible Gaming Initiatives
Hochul's announced agenda for the new year includes plans to impose new restrictions on gaming advertisements, requirements for insurers, and more.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has stated that "curbing gambling addiction" in the state is among her policy goals for 2026. Her agenda for the year outlines seven actions she intends to take toward that end, encompassing many aspects of the experience of gaming for people in New York.
Hochul's agenda for promoting responsible gaming
According to a publication from Hochul's office, the governor wants "to strengthen prevention, treatment, and harm reduction around problem gambling through evidence-based practices and supports, as well as implementing a data-driven approach to identify and address long-term trends." To achieve those goals, Hochul has committed to doing the following.
- Advance legislation to ensure treatment for addiction disorders are covered by insurance.
- Create a specialized certification for peer advocates who have lived experience with gambling harms.
- Conduct a 10-year statewide study to assess gambling health trends, evaluate prevention outcomes, and guide future programming decisions.
- Direct the Gaming Commission to issue guidance on ways to positively utilize AI to assist with identifying and proactively helping those who may need assistance.
- Establish a Gambling Health Institute that equips organizations statewide with the tools and training they need to address problem gambling.
- Integrate gambling recovery services into 16 recovery community and outreach centers, including peer advocates.
- Limit betting platforms' ability to use AI-powered services to exploit consumers' gambling habits through personalized promotions and wagers that keep individuals gambling beyond their intended limit.
While there are currently no legal ways to access the top online casinos in New York, that is something that some lawmakers in Albany want to change. New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo plans to introduce a bill that would regulate iGaming this year.
Legal gaming in New York currently consists of commercial and tribal physical casinos plus online sports wagering. Intrastate online poker games might also become available to New Yorkers under Addabbo's proposal.
While some of these actions will require directives from Hochul as the state's chief executive to set into motion, she will need cooperation from the New York Assembly on others. That includes the provision to compel insurers to cover treatment for disordered gaming.
She might find Addabbo an ally in that regard.
Addabbo filed bill Hochul alluded to regarding insurers
In New York, insurers already face a mandate that they must cover qualified substance abuse treatments. Addabbo wants to expand that coverage as much as Hochul does.
In June 2025, Addabbo presented S.8352 to the New York Senate. Hochul cited the legislation as necessary to "close the gap" that may prevent New York residents from receiving treatment for disordered gaming.
That could be the proposal that Hochul supports in 2026. However, Hochul has not made any statements toward that end to date. Enactment of that legislation might make her more likely to welcome bills enabling New Yorkers to access iGaming offers like the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code.
As far as gaming goes in 2026, Hochul is focusing her energies on improving safer gaming in New York. Others in Albany have the same idea.
