New York Attorney General weighs in on Super Bowl LVI betting
Letitia James issues consumer alert threatening regulatory action against “predatory and misleading” online operator advertising
New York’s Attorney General has warned Empire State sports bettors to not become the victim of “deceptive” online sports betting companies during Super Bowl LVI.
Issuing a consumer alert on the New York State Office of Attorney General website, Letitia James suggested New Yorkers had been “bombarded with misleading ads” on social media and streaming sites since the launch of sports betting on January 8.
James highlighted so called “risk-free” bets and “$1,000 welcome offers”, which sound like free money but often come with strings attached that consumers aren’t aware of.
To combat what she called “predatory and misleading” practices by online sports betting platforms, James encouraged bettors to refer to other user feedback, operator fine print, and further resources available in the Empire State for bettors.
In line with some comments on social media platforms from users taking advantage of introductory offers, James urged New York bettors to beware of “unexpected restrictions” on accessing accounts and making withdrawals.
“I urge all New Yorkers watching the Super Bowl and betting online for the first time to be careful – don’t let scammers game your gamble,” said Attorney General James.
“Before placing a bet, do your research into the platform, read the fine print of the offer, and follow our other tips to avoid any red flags and keep the odds in your favor.
“Online sports betting companies that fumble their advertising to mislead New Yorkers can expect to hear from my office,” James added.
New York has enjoyed an explosive start to sports betting since going live on January 8, with New Yorkers betting $1.625bn in just 23 days to make mobile NY sports betting the biggest market in the US.
The state’s seven registered sportsbooks have poured significant monies into promotion and customer acquisition since the launch, despite the Empire State’s 51% tax rate and its impact on operator profitability.
US sports bettors will place more than $7.61bn in bets on Super Bowl LVI, up 78% year on year, according to latest data from the American Gaming Association (AGA).