[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M ELISE KLINE.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS OFFICIALLY COME TO A CLOSE AS OF LAST FRIDAY AROUND 7:30 P.M.

STATE LAWMAKERS THIS SESSION PASSED OVER 700 BILLS, SOME OF WHICH WERE HOT BUTTON ISSUES THAT CAME TO FRUITION IN THE FINAL DAYS.

THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES DISCUSSED AMONG LAWMAKERS WAS THE PROCESS OF REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

IN THE LAST TWO TO THREE DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION YEAR, STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT ALTERED THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

STATE LAWMAKERS ALSO PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD PUT A MORATORIUM ON PERMITS FOR NEW DATA CENTERS.

IF SIGNED INTO LAW, THE POLICY WOULD BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION.

WE SAT DOWN WITH SAMUEL KING OF WXXI, AND KESHIA CLUKEY OF NEWSDAY TO DISCUSS THESE POLICIES AND SESSION TOPICS AND MORE.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, SAM AND KESHIA.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US!

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S OFFICIALLY COME IT A CLOSE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PASSED.

SOME THAT DIDN'T, BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO ALL OF THAT, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOUR BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SESSION WERE.

>> WELL, IT WAS MY FIRST SESSION.

>> VERY EXCITING.

>> I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BUTTING TO FOLKS LIKE KESHIA AND YOURSELF, IT WAS AN INTERESTING ONE AND THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET TOOK SO MUCH TIME AND SORT OF CROWDED A LOT OF THINGS TO THE END FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO I THINK THAT WAS THE BIG TAKEAWAY.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE AT THE END, PEOPLE SEEMED A LITTLE FRAZZLED AND TIRED AND EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

I AGREE.

I THINK THAT-- SO THE GOVERNOR HAS USED THIS SORT OF BUDGETING TACTIC OF DELAYING UNTIL SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS AND AS A RESULT, THE LAWMAKERS DON'T GET PAID UNTIL THE BUDGET'S PASSED.

THEY ALSO-- A LOT OF THEIR RESOURCES IN BILL MAKING ARE TIED UP IN THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

SO THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET AS MUCH DONE.

EVERYONE'S CRANKY AND THIS YEAR FELT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

NOW SHE'S DONE THIS IN THE PAST BUT THIS YEAR, WAS HER LATEST, AND IT JUST FELT LIKE PEOPLE WERE READY TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PROCESS.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HEASTIE SAID WE'LL MAYBE TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT SESSION.

NOW I THINK ONCE THEY LET THEM COOL DOWN AND GO HOME, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANY MOVEMENT NEXT YEAR.

I THINK IT WILL HAVE TO BE A STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT DEAL, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT.

THEY COULD MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT MAYBE ALLOW THEM TO GET PAID WHILE THE BUDGET IS GETTING NEGOTIATED.

THEY ALSO COULD CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS WHICH WERE ESSENTIALLY GIVEN TO HER THROUGH A COURT CASE YEARS AGO.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK SALTY WAS THE KEY.

EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY FRUSTRATED BY THE END.

THERE WASN'T AN APRIL BREAK AND THEN THEY ALL HAD TO GET BACK TO THEIR OFFICES FOR PRIMARY.

>> YES, YES.

AND SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS, THEY WERE TALKING A LOT ABOUT REDISTRICTING CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THIS SESSION.

SO THEY DID PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THIS SESSION THEY'LL STILL HAVE TO PASS PIT NEXT SESSION AND THEN IT WILL GO TO VOTERS, AS YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT WERE YOUR BIG TAKEAWAYS OR WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THEM PASSING THAT THIS YEAR?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THEY ACTIVELY SAID, OKAY, OTHER STATES ARE JERRYMANDERING, SO ARE WE.

BECAUSE I THINK USUALLY THERE'S A TRYING TO PLAY IN THE RULES OR AT LEAST PRETENDING TO BE WITHIN THE RULES, BUT THEY ACTIVELY SAID NO.

IF OTHER STATES ARE GOING TO DO THIS TO TRY TO GAIN CONTROL OF CONGRESS, THEN NEW YORK IS GOING TO JUMP IN AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

NOW IT WOULDN'T AFFECT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER.

LIKE YOU SAID, THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON IT THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND THEY ALSO MADE CHANGES SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE WHAT THEY WANT ON THE BALLOT WHEN THE PUBLIC GOES TO VOTE FOR IT.

SO BACK IN 2021, THEY HAD AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THEY WERE BROUGHT TO COURT BECAUSE OF THE WORD INDEPENDENT BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE CHOOSES THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND SO THAT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE AMENDMENT.

THIS TIME, THEY'RE LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO WRITE WHATEVER THEY WANT ON THE BALLOT.

AND THEY'RE KIND OF HOPING THAT VOTERS WILL GO ALONG WITH THIS.

I GUESS WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY SAY A LOT OF THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN OTHER STATES.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS, OF COURSE, SAY NO, YOU GUYS STARTED THIS WITH YOUR REDISTRICTING AND JERRYMANDERING GOING BACK ALMOST A COUPLE DECADES.

SO REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY TRYING TO PUSH BACK ON THIS AND PROBABLY GETTING A PREVIEW OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IF IT DOES, INDEED, PASS NEXT SESSION AS WE EXPECT WHEN IT COMES TO VOTERS IN TERMS OF SAYING THIS ISN'T FAIR.

THIS IS NEW YORK.

WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER STATES REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC'S LIKE PULSE WILL BE ON THIS ISSUE?

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES AND NOW IN NEW YORK, THINGS ARE GOING TO SHIFT.

GRANTED THIS ISN'T GOING TO IMPACT VOTERS FOR QUITE SOME TIME SINCE IT HAS TO PASS NEXT SESSION AND THEN FOE TO THEIR BALLOT.

IT MAY BE A LITTLE WHILE.

I'M CURIOUS IN YOUR REPORTING WHAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE SAID.

>> I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF UNREST WITH VOTERS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

I THINK BOTH REPUBLICANS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND DEMOCRATS WHO RUN NEW YORK STATE, I MEAN, WE ARE A 2-1 DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATION STATE.

SO MOST OF THE VOTERS ARE DEMOCRATIC, BUT THERE IS-- THE BUDGET'S CREEPING UP.

THERE'S A LOT OF SPENDING.

THERE'S HIGH GAS PRICES.

, HIGH ENERGY PRICES AND SO PEOPLE ARE FED UP WHEN THEY GO TO THE GROCERY STORE EVEN AND THERE'S NOT MUCH-- THERE WAS A LOT OF AFFORDABILITY ISSUES THAT WERE DONE THIS SESSION AS FAR AS NEW YORK STATE BUT WE'LL KIND OF SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS CONGRESS AND I THINK THAT WILL IMPACT HOW THEY WILL WANT TO VOTE THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHETHER OR NOT THEY THOUGHT CHANGE WAS MADE IN THAT ELECTION AND WHETHER THEY THINK MORE IS NEEDED.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT'S THE KEY OF SORT OF WHAT HAPPENS THIS FALL AND WHAT'S THE SORT OF STATE OF ENVIRONMENT WHEN THE REFERENDUM COMES UP, AND HOW CLOSELY CAN YOU TIE THIS TO TRUMP?

BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT, ACCORDING TO OPINION POLLS AT LEAST, REMAINS VERY UNPOPULAR IN NEW YORK.

SO DEMOCRATS CAN TIE THIS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THEY MIGHT HAVE MORE OF A SUCCESS WITH THIS REFERENDUM COMING UP.

>> AND ELECTIONS WERE NOT THE ONLY BIG TOPIC THIS YEAR.

DATA CENTERS ALSO CAME UP QUITE A LOT.

IN THE FINAL DAYS, THEY PASSED A BILL TO BASICALLY PUT A MORATORIUM ON NEW DATA CENTER PERMITS.

WHAT DID YOU KIND OF MAKE OF THIS COMING UP THIS YEAR WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE OF THESE CENTERS KIND OF POPPING UP IN >> WE'VE SEEN MORE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE CENTERS AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE REACTION, THE BACKLASH TO THESE DATA CENTERS COMING UP AND REALLY, THIS SORT OF MOMENTUM, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMED A FEW JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, MAYBE WEEKS AGO THAT THIS SORT OF MOMENTUM KIND OF SPRUNG UP.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF RALLIES AT THE CAPITAL.

PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OPPOSING THIS.

THERE REALLY SEEMED TO BE THIS GROUNDSWELL SUPPORT AND THEY GOT KEY MEMBERS, LIKE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, ON THE BANDWAGON FOR THIS SO TO SPEAK.

SO WHAT WE WERE HEARING THAT THE LEGISLATORS RESPONDING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO GET RID OF THESE, BUT WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> AND IF THIS BILL DOES GET SIGNED BY KATHY, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION KIND OF AS POLICY.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HAVE ON NEW YORK AND WILL OTHER STATES FOLLOW?

>> OTHER STATES HAVE TRIED.

MAINE TRIED AND THEIR GOVERNOR VETOED A MORATORIUM.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SAY.

WE'VE ASKED HER ABOUT IT A FEW TIMES AS THE PRESS CORPS, AND SHE TYPICALLY DOESN'T TAKE A POSITION ON BILLS UNTIL SHE'S HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM.

SHE POINTS TO THE STATE OF STATE ADDRESS AND THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR OWN WAY WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY, SO TO SPEAK.

SHE ALSO SEEMED TO WARM TO THE IDEA THAT'S IN THIS LEGISLATION THAT THESE DATA CENTERS NEED TO PROVIDE BENEFITS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT SHE DOES WITH THIS LEGISLATION.

YOU KNOW, SHE DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO SORT OF NEGOTIATE SOME AMENDMENTS.

SO MAYBE THAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS, BUT I WILL THINK NEW YORK BEING THE LARGE STATE THAT IT IS IF THIS DOES, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH, IT PROBABLY WOULD SORT OF SET A PRECEDENT EITHER WAY.

YOU MIGHT SEE, YOU KNOW, SOME STATES FOLLOW NEW YORK.

YOU MIGHT SEE SOME STATES SORT OF GOING INTO NEW YORK, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT NPR WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT DOESN'T FALL NEATLY PARTISANLY.

PRO-BUSINESS GROUPS ARE PART OF IT BUT YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE INTRUSION OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE FACT THAT SORT OF, YOU KNOW, HOW IT IMPACTS ENVIRONMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR DOES SIGN THIS, WHAT SORT OF NATIONAL MESSAGE IT SENDS.

>> I THINK THAT SAMUEL TOUCHED ON SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT, TOO WITH BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE BEING DEMOCRAT AND THE GOVERNOR ALSO BEING A DEMOCRAT, WE'VE SEEN IT MORE AND MORE THE GOVERNOR LESS LIKELY TO VETO THINGS AND MORE LIKELY TO NEGOTIATE BEHIND THE SCENES.

AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER NEGOTIATION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, JUST LIKE THE BUDGET IS, SO THAT SHE'S NOT GOING AGAINST HER FELLOW DEMOCRATS UNLESS NEEDED.

SHE'LL MAKE CHANGES.

MAYBE THERE WILL BE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PASSED THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND SO WE COULD SEE THAT.

SHE COULD DO SOMETHING ON THIS UNDER THE GUISE OF AFFORDABILITY WITH LARGE DATA CENTERS COMING IN AND RAISING ELECTRICITY COST IN THE AREAS BECAUSE THEY'RE USING SO MUCH ENERGY.

I PERSONALLY AM FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY AND I KNOW THAT'S HAPPENED WHERE, YOU KNOW, ELECTRICITY WAS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THE DATA CENTERS CAME IN.

THEY'RE USING MORE AND INCREASING RATES FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S BEEN A MAIN ISSUE FOR HER THIS SESSION.

AND LAWMAKERS AS WELL.

THEY CAME IN SAYING WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS STATE MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE SOME BILLS, TOO, THAT DID NOT MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE SUCH AS THE PACKAGING REDUCTION AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, AND THAT BILL HAS HAD A LONG HISTORY OF GETTING CLOSE TO PASSING BOTH HOUSES AND THEN GETTING THROWN OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS BILL KIND OF NOT MAKING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR IT?

>> WITH THE AFFORDABILITY BEING THE TOP LINE OF THIS YEAR, I THINK THIS WAS NOT THE YEAR FOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS, WHETHER IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY OR RHETORIC AROUND IT THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE CASE AND I THINK THE PACKAGING BILL FELL VICTIM TO THAT.

ALTHOUGH, WE HAVE SEEN IT STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I THINK THIS YEAR WAS VERY APPARENT.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A LIST OF PRIORITIES.

IT WAS NOT ON IT WHICH I THINK MEANS THAT IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY.

ALSO ITS MAIN SPONSOR, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GLICK, THIS WAS HER LAST YEAR AND THIS WAS KIND OF HER HILL TO DIE ON.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT ABOVE THAT HILL WITH THE LEGISLATION.

SHE ALSO WAS PASSING-- TRYING TO PASS A NUMBER OF OTHER BILLS INCLUDING THE BEAUTY JUSTICE ACT, WHICH WOULD REDUCE HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN THINGS LIKE MAKEUP, AS WELL AS SOME PFAS HARM HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN COOKWARE.

WE DIDN'T SEE THAT GO THROUGH EITHER.

I THINK THAT BETWEEN THAT AND THE PACKAGING BILL, THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF WINS FOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS ON THAT FRONT.

THERE WERE SOME WINS IN THE SOLAR REALM, BUT I THINK PACKAGING, WE'LL REALLY HAVE TO SEE.

MAYBE THEY MAKE MORE CHANGES TO IT NEXT YEAR.

IT JUST HAS FAILED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY IN RECENT YEARS.

>> IT'S HARD TO, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH, YOU KNOW, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GLICK, SHE SAID, LOOK, WE MET WITH INDUSTRY.

WE MET WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

WE TRIED TO COME TO A COMPROMISE ON THIS THAT EVERYONE COULD AGREE TO, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GLICK HAS BEEN IN ALBANY A LONG TIME, WHO PICKS THIS UP AND WHAT SORT OF-- WHAT THE ELECTIONS SHOW ABOUT THE TYPES OF MEMBERS WHO WILL BE COMING TO ALBANY NEXT YEAR TO SEE WHETHER THAT MOMENTUM IS THERE.

YOU KNOW, ONE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR THE SENATE DIDN'T TAKE IT UP BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE TIMETABLE OF IT NOT PASSING THE ASSEMBLY.

YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T FEEL WITH THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME THEY HAD TIME TO DO IT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.

>> I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO FOR NEXT SESSION, IN ADDITION TO WHAT KATHY IS GOING TO SIGN.

WHAT BILLS SHE WILL VETO, WHAT BILLS SHE WILL NOT.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HE ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH WXXI'S SAMUEL KING OF OUR PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK AND NEWSDAY'S KESHIA CLUKEY.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

AMONG SOME OF THE BILLS STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THIS YEAR WAS A BILL RELATED TO GAMBLING TO MODERNIZE THE SELF-EXCLUSION PROCESS INTENDING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NEED TO EXCLUDE THEMSELVES FROM WAGERING.

STATE LAWMAKERS ALSO CONSIDERED BILLS TO CONSIDER RESTRICTS FOR GAMBLING ADS, ESTABLISH KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE SPORTS BETTING LICENSES AND MORE.

OUR PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK'S DAVE LOMBARDO FROM THE CAPITAL PRESS ROOM SAT DOWN WITH RACING AND WAGERING ASSEMBLY CHAIR CARRIE WOERNER TO DISCUSS THESE POLICIES AND THE STATE'S APPROACH TO ADDRESS GAMBLING ISSUES.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> >> WELL, ASSEMBLY MEMBER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE, DAVID.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

>> GLAD YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

OVER THE LAST, SAY, QUARTER OF A CENTURY, WE'VE REALLY SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF GAMBLING OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN NEW YORK, WHETHER IT'S RACINOS, CASINOS, SPORTS WAGERING AND MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING AND THEN CASINOS IN NEW YORK CITY AND NOW PREDICTION MARKETS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY MIGHT ENTAIL.

HOW PREPARED DO YOU FEEL LIKE NEW YORK HAS BEEN TO ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMBLING ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT FORMS OF GAMBLING AS THEY'VE COME ONLINE?

>> I'LL BE HONEST, I THINK WE GROSSLY UNDERESTIMATED WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP A COMPULSION FOR GAMBLING.

I DON'T THINK WE ANTICIPATED THE GROWTH IN THAT WHEN WE LEGALIZE THE MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE TRENDS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BEGIN TO REALLY ADDRESS THIS IN A SERIOUS WAY.

>> AND THERE'S SERIOUS DIALOGUE GOING ON ABOUT THIS AT THE CAPITAL RIGHT NOW.

IN FACT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE ASSEMBLY PASSED A PACKAGE OF BILLS.

SOME OF WHICH WERE YOURS AND I'M CURIOUS, WHAT, IF ANY, OF THEM STOOD OUT TO YOU AS MEANINGFUL FOR THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW IN ADDRESSING PROBLEM GAMBLING IN >> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO SORT OF JUST GIVE YOU A BROADER ANSWER >> HIJACK THE SHOW.

GO FOR IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING MONEY INTO PROBLEM GAMBLING FOR A WHILE NOW AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN CONCERT WITH LEGALIZING MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING IS WE PUT A LOT MORE MONEY TOWARDS OAS OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES, TO ADDRESS TREATMENT AND RECOVERY AS WELL AS SOME DATA GATHERING TO UNDERSTAND THE PREVALENCE.

>> SURE.

>> AND I THINK WHAT WE-- WHAT IS BECOMING CLEAR IS THAT FROM OUR OWN RESEARCH ON THE GAMING COMMISSION HAS DONE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CALLS TO THE HOTLINE, AS WELL AS NATIONWIDE RESEARCH NOW THAT MANY STATES HAVE LEGALIZED SPORTS WAGERING AND MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING IS THAT THERE'S A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING.

IN SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHICS.

PARTICULARLY YOUNG MEN.

SO WE COULD CONTINUE TO PUT MONEY INTO THIS, BUT THE TREND LINE SUGGESTS THAT IT WOULD BECOME LIKE A GIANT HOLE THAT WE WOULD JUST CONTINUOUSLY PUT MONEY INTO BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DOESN'T GO AWAY.

SO I THINK THE SMART, THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO IS TO, THROUGH STATUTE AND REGULATION, PUT SOME REQUIREMENTS ON THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES TO BUILD SAFEGUARDS INTO THE GAMES, SO THAT WE PREVENT, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, COMPULSIVE PLAY FROM DEVELOPING, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PACKAGE, THE SIX BILLS THAT WE PASSED, IS THE FIRST STEP ALONG THAT PATH.

>> SO YEAH.

IN TERMS OF THESE BILLS THAT HAVE MOVED THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY, THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE VOLUNTARY SELF-EXCLUSION LIST, MAKING THAT, SAY, ELECTRONIC.

THERE'S THIS IDEA OF KNOWING YOUR CUSTOMERS AND BEING AWARE OF SORT OF THE AT-RISK BEHAVIOR THAT SOMEONE MIGHT DEMONSTRATE.

THERE'S ALSO THE IDEA OF ADDRESSING THE ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS ON MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING.

TO ME, THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE WE SEE SPORTS WAGERING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THAT'S NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WATCHING SPORTING EVENTS BECAUSE IT'S INUNDATED WITH THAT COVERAGE BUT YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS ARE BEING INUNDATED WITH SPORTS WAGERING ADS AS WELL.

WHAT SHOULD THE RULES OF THE ROAD LOOK LIKE FOR THIS MOVING FORWARD?

>> SO WHAT WE STARTED WITHIN THE BILL THAT YOU REFERENCED IS JUST SAYING THE SAME RULES THAT APPLY TO CASINOS SHOULD APPLY TO THE CASINO THAT'S IN YOUR POCKET.

>> SURE.

>> RIGHT?

SO MOBILE SPORTS WAGERING SHOULD HAVE TO CONFORM TO THE SAME ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS THAT OR RESTRICTIONS THAT CASINOS DO.

SO THAT'S, I THINK, JUST THE FIRST STEP.

I THINK ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ADVERTISING THAT HAPPENS IN THE GAME BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE, MOST OF THEIR BETTING HAPPENS WHILE THE GAME IS HAPPENING.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS.

SO FOR THEM, THE ADVERTISING'S BECOME A PROMPT TO PLACE THAT NEXT BET, AND WE WANT TO TRY AND-- FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A RISK PROFILE, WE WANT TO SLOW THAT DOWN, AND THAT'S WHERE THE COMBINATION OF THE ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS AND THE KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER BILL REALLY INTERSECT AND THE KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER BILL, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE REQUIRING THAT THE PLATFORMS DEVELOP PROFILES OF THEIR PLAYERS.

IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO ARE LOW RISK, MEDIUM RISK AND HIGH RISK.

RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS PROBABLY A PATH THAT PEOPLE CAN GO FROM LOW TO MEDIUM TO HIGH, AND THAT ONCE WE HAVE THAT STRUCTURE IN PLACE WHERE THAT PROFILING IS BUILT BASED ON BEHAVIOR SO BASED ON THE TYPE OF PLAY, THE SPEED OF PLAY, THEIR BEHAVIOR WITH RESPECT TO WITHDRAWALS, WE CAN THEN STEP FORWARD AND SAY, OKAY, NOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY IS AS PEOPLE PROGRESS DOWN THAT PATH, YOU NEED TO TURN UP THE PROTECTIONS.

SO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF IN-PLAY ADVERTISING THEY SEE.

REDUCE THE PROMPTS THAT THEY GET.

PUT LIMITS ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN BET, HOW FREQUENTLY THEY CAN BET.

BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING BASED ON BEHAVIOR OF WHERE THEIR RISK PROFILES ARE.

SO THIS KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER APPROACH CREATES THAT FRAMEWORK.

I THINK WE'VE TAKEN SOME STEPS WITH ADVERTISING TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT EXCESSIVE AND THAT THEY PROVIDE THAT-- THAT REQUIREMENT, THE FULL TIME THEY HAVE TO LIST OUT THE HELP LINE SO IF YOU ARE SEEING IT, NOT ONLY ARE WE ADVERTISING THE GAME, BUT WE'RE ADVERTISING HOW YOU CAN GET HELP IF THERE'S A PROBLEM.

SO THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, BUT I THINK THESE TWO THINGS ARE CONNECTED.

>> STICKING WITH THAT BROADER THEME OF TRYING TO PREVENT A PROBLEM FROM MATERIALIZING, ANOTHER BILL THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE ASSEMBLY HAS TO DO WITH A TASK FORCE ON WHAT ARE KNOWN BY PROP BETS.

>> RIGHT.

>> THESE ARE THE BETS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE FUN THAN JUST WHO'S GOING TO WIN A GAME.

THIS COULD BE HOW MANY REBOUNDS SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE IT COULD BE HOW LONG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS GOING TO GO FOR.

ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT ONE IS ACTUALLY ILLEGAL UNDER NEW YORK'S RULES, BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT PROP BETS AS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM?

>> SO I THINK THERE'S TWO KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

ONE IS THAT CERTAIN KINDS OF BETS CAN BE EASILY MANIPULATED.

SO IF THERE'S A LOT OF-- YOU KNOW, THE GAMES TRY TO EVEN OUT THE MONEYS WAGERED ON OVERS AND ON UNDERS.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, IF THEY SAY DAVE LOMBARDO IS GOING TO HAVE TEN REBOUNDS, YOU CAN SAY OVER OR DAVE IS 5'8", WHAT'S HE DOING IN THE NBA?

TAKE THE UNDER.

>> SURE.

YOU THIS FOR EXPLAINING.

THE PLATFORMS TRY TO EVEN IT OUT, RIGHT, THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BUT IF, SAY, YOU SEE THAT MONEY IS ALL GOING SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE OVERS, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THE GAME COULD BE MANIPULATED SO THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS ACTUALLY UNDER AND THAT WOULD-- THAT WOULD PROVIDE A PAY DAY FOR A PERSON WHO BETS ON THE UNDER.

AND WE SEE-- WE HAVE SEEN THAT.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME HIGH PROFILE CASES.

>> SURE.

>> SO I THINK WE WANT TO LOOK AT PROP BETS TO SAY, HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE GAME SUFFERS BASED ON THE WAGERING THAT'S HAPPENING.

THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON BECAUSE SPORTS, WE WANT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT THE GAME IS NOT FIXED, THAT THERE'S AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE-BASED OUTCOME THAT'S GOING TO MATTER.

THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT STATISTICALLY, 94% OF THE TIME THE HOUSE WINS ON THOSE PROP BETS.

>> SURE.

>> SO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM GAMBLING-- IF YOU ARE NOT USING JUST YOUR ENTERTAINMENT DOLLARS, BUT YOU'VE WAGERED YOUR HOUSING PAYMENT FOR THAT MONTH AND YOU'RE HOPING TO GET IT BACK, BETTING ON THOSE PROP BETS IS THE NO THE WAY TO DO IT.

BECAUSE 94% OF THE TIME THE HOUSE WINS.

THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TIE IN THIS NOTION OF RISK PROFILING AND THE TYPES OF BETS PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S-- WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BET MORE THAN THEY CAN AFFORD AND THESE PROP BETS WHICH ARE FUNNY AND FUN AND APPEALING, AND THE PARLETS LOOK LIKE, WOW, I CAN REALLY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY IF I HIT ALL FIVE OF THESE.

>> STACKING UP ALL THESE PROP BETS.

>> RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO.

WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A STATISTICS CLASS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I THINK THEY ARE-- THAT'S WHAT THE TASK FORCE IS GOING TO LOOK AT IS THE INTERSECTION OF THE STATISTICALLY PROBABILITY, RISK PROFILING AND THE ECONOMICS OF PROP BETS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT COME TO FRUITION.

>> WELL, LASTLY, WE REFERENCED THE EMERGENCE OF PREDICTION MARKETS.

THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY COMMODITIES REGULATED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THAT'S ALL A FANCY WAY OF SAYING IT'S GAMBLING IN ANOTHER FORM.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN THE STATE DO TO REGULATE THIS?

AND DO YOU SEE THIS AS A PARTICULARLY NEFARIOUS FORM OF DE FACTO GAMBLING GIVEN THAT IT CREATES SO MANY MORE OPTIONS OF BETTING BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BET ON THE OSCARS, YOU WANT TO BET ON WHETHER NEW YORK IS GOING TO DO UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE THIS YEAR, YOU WANT TO BET ON WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE, IT'S ALL OUT THERE.

>> THERE'S MENTION MARKETS.

HOW MANY TIMES IS DAVE GOING TO USE A PARTICULAR PHRASE?

>> SURE.

>> THAT'S A FORM OF BETTING AS WELL.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CROSS OFF THIS CROSSWALK?

THESE ARE REGULATED ONLY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE CFTC, COMMUNITIES FUTURES TRADING CORPORATION >> I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.

>> YEP.

AND BY LAW THE STATES HAVE THE SOLE RIGHT TO REGULATE GAMBLING IN THEIR STATES.

SO THESE MARKETS ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY IN STATES.

>> BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GAMBLING.

>> THEY ARE GAMBLING.

AND WE ARE-- THE STATE IS TAKING STEPS, JUST AS MANY STATES ARE, TO END THE ROLE THAT THOSE ENTITIES PLAY IN THE GAMING UNIVERSE IN EACH STATE SO WE HAVE THE CEASE AND DECEASE LETTERS HAVE GONE OUT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SIGNED ONTO LAWSUITS.

WE ARE REALLY WORKING ON TRYING TO GET THEM OUT OF NEW YORK, THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST SET OF REGULATIONS BECOMING MORE ROBUST TO MANAGE THE UNIVERSE OF GAMBLING OPTIONS AND THESE ARE NOT-- THESE ARE NOT IN OUR UNIVERSE.

>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE, DAVE.

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AND FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT THE STATE'S PENDING POLICIES ON GAMBLING, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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