The minimum age for gambling in New York casinos might soon rise if a influential state senator has his way. 

This week, state Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Queens) presented Senate Bill 2610. The law would ban anyone younger than 21 from participating in gambling within the Empire State. 

According to existing legislation, individuals 18 years and older are permitted to use New York's over 17,600 video lottery terminals (VLTs) found at nine racinos and off-track betting sites throughout the state. VLTs are machines resembling slot machines and electronic table games that connect to a centralized lottery system overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission. 

VLTs function at Yonkers Raceway's Empire City Casino, Resorts World New York City, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, Resorts World Hudson Valley, Hamburg Gaming at the Fairgrounds, Vernon Downs Casino Hotel, Batavia Downs Gaming, and Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino. 

SB2610 would not increase the minimum age for participating in the New York Lottery, which stays at 18. Nevertheless, the lowest age to participate in Quick Draw, a keno-style game held every four minutes at bars and small establishments serving alcohol, is 21. 

New York Gambling Age 

In contrast to the VLT properties, New York's 2013 commercial casino legislation required a minimum age of 21 for participation. 

Since then, four casinos have launched upstate — del Lago Resort and Casino, Resorts World Catskills, Rivers Casino Schenectady, and Tioga Downs. Visitors are required to present evidence of being at least 21 years old prior to gaining entry to those gaming areas. The same applies to many tribal casinos in upstate, with Turning Stone being one notable exception that allows 18+ to gamble. 

Slot machines, live dealer table games, and onsite sports betting will be introduced downstate in the near future, as the ten-year ban on NYC licenses has concluded and the competition for the sought-after concessions is in progress. 

Addabbo, the chair of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, has long desired to align VLTs with commercial casinos to ensure that only individuals of legal drinking age can gain access. He has not been successful since the 2011-12 legislative session when he initially proposed a bill to increase the VLT minimum age. 

Addabbo's SB2610 is undergoing initial examination by his Gaming Committee. Last year, comparable legislation passed the committee with a 5-2 vote before getting stuck in the Senate Rules Committee. 

Video Lottery Supports Education 

While the New York Gaming Commission oversees the VLT centralized system, the revenue produced by the games is categorized as part of the New York Lottery, with all earnings directed towards supporting public education. 

In the fiscal year 2023-24, from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, VLTs retained approximately $2.4 billion from over $39.5 billion in total wagers. The state’s share from the net winnings totaled over $1 billion. 

Empire City generated the highest education revenue at $310.8 million. Resorts World NYC followed with $281.4 million, while Jake’s 58 ranked third at $128.9 million.

"The Commission aspires to provide 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,” the mission statement of the New York Gaming Commission reads.

Raising the minimum age for VLT play would likely hinder the potential for maximizing educational support. This is the reason state legislators in Albany haven't supported Addabbo's initiative in recent legislative sessions. 

Nevertheless, with mobile sports betting flourishing in New York — currently the wealthiest sports betting market in the nation — greater backing for raising the video lottery age to 21 could be achieved.