Gaming Commission, New York State

Agency Web Site: http://www.gaming.ny.gov/

Mission

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) and charitable gaming. 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. The measure merged the New York State Racing and Wagering Board with the New York State Division of Lottery into 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.

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 and to promote 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 seeks to ensure fair and strict regulation of all gaming activity while reducing costs and regulatory burdens to the gaming industry. 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.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $114.6 million All Funds for the Commission, an increase of 8.4 million (7.9 percent) in All Funds from the amount appropriated in 2013-14. The increase is due to the implementation of the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act enacted in Chapters 174 and 175 of the Laws of 2013.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 430 FTEs for the Commission, an increase of 10 FTEs from the 2013-14 budget necessary to start implementing the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act.

Major budget actions include:

• Increase the racing regulatory fee on thoroughbred, harness, off-track pari-mutuel betting and simulcast racing from 0.5 percent to 0.6 percent of handle.
• Collection of market origin fees from out-of-state advance deposit wagering entities on all wagers accepted from NY residents and applying the fees as credits against the racing regulatory fee paid by in-state tracks and off-track betting locations.
• New appropriation funding for the administrative costs of the Commercial Gaming program, authorized by the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act and approved by New Yorkers through the voter referendum on November 5, 2013.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/20/2014

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables