New York Bill Could Ban Online Bookmakers From Limiting Winning Players

^{Photo: Alex Bores, Democratic member of the New York State Assembly}

A bill has been introduced in New York State that would prohibit online bookmakers from imposing limits on player stakes and deposits, reports SBC Americas. The initiative comes from Alex Bores, a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly.

According to the draft law, operators would be barred from restricting players without valid reasons. Such restrictions may include lowering stake limits, capping deposits, reducing betting frequency, or suspending accounts.

In other words, the bill aims to protect bettors from account limitations — often referred to as “cuts” — that affect not only rule-breakers but also winning players who consistently show profits over time.

The legislation does allow exceptions. Bookmakers would be permitted to restrict accounts in cases of:

• suspicious betting activity (including rule violations, fraud, or money laundering),
• signs of problem gambling.
• Even in these cases, operators would be required to justify their actions.

If an operator decides to impose restrictions, it must notify the player electronically within 24 hours. The notice must include:

• the type of restriction,
• its duration,
• the reason (e.g., suspected fraud or problem gambling),
• and a helpline number for gambling support.