New York wants you to avoid risky bets, targeting illegal sites in campaign

• NYSGC highlights the risk of gambling at unregulated websites to consumers and society
• The commission has enumerated the legal gambling options in the state and urged people to stay away from unlicensed platforms
• The commission wants consumers to be able to tell risky bets and steer clear of the platforms that offer them

The New York State Gaming Commission has launched a new campaign aiming at educating state residents about the dangers of engaging with unlicensed gambling websites and the risks this type of behavior carries.

NYSGC’s new campaign focuses on raising awareness for risky wagers

Through the Avoid Risky Bets program, the NYSGC hopes to once again boost awareness for the model that prediction markets and offshore operators use to lure in players, the regulator argues.

The campaign is directed at helping individuals understand the "tell-tale signs" of a risky wager and how to spot unlawful gambling when it is offered to them.

The regulator reminded players about the legal gambling options in the Empire State first, and argued that anything else - including prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos, let alone online casinos for real money- is not legal and should be avoided.

NYSGC Chairman Brian O’Dwyer outlined the goal of the commission to keep bettors away from unregulated forms of gambling that could potentially harm them:

"Legitimate, lawful, regulated gaming – of which there are ample options – has fair wagers, player safeguards, responsible gaming measures, and societal benefits. Whereas the unlawful gambling market rips off unsuspecting individuals – including youth – who think they are making legitimate wagers to the benefit of faceless, untraceable operations. While the two may sometimes look similar, it’s clear which one is a smart wager and which one is a risky bet."

The commission went on to enumerate the risks associated with unlawful gambling, with the NYSGC arguing that there were societal benefits, as unregulated websites did not contribute taxes.

Websites not regulated by the NYSGC fail to meet many of the established consumer protection measures

Furthermore, many unregulated or prohibited forms of gambling are actively targeting young people who may not be of the state’s legal gambling age - 21.

Many of these platforms then fail to carry out any sort of consumer protection, whether this is self-exclusion, access to help resources, or more. Among the risks outlined is also the misuse of financial and personal data, and consumers are left without recourse if they feel that the operator has wronged them.

On this last point, independent adjudication services such as Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center may be of help.

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