New York Regulator Slams Weak League Response on Player Props

New York regulators are still weighing what to do with player prop betting, and a fresh round of league feedback did not help much. During a commission meeting on Monday, New York State Gaming Commission chair Brian O’Dwyer said most leagues offered little or no useful input after the state asked them to flag prop bets that may be easier to manipulate.

Good to Know

• New York asked around 100 sports leagues for comments on player prop betting risks.
• Only three leagues replied, and only the NCAA and MLB gave meaningful feedback, according to Brian O’Dwyer.
• New York could still limit or remove some player prop markets on its own.

New York Keeps Pressure on Player Prop Betting

Brian O’Dwyer did not hide his frustration. After the New York State Gaming Commission asked leagues to point out player prop markets that should be restricted, limited, or removed, the response was thin. He said just three leagues answered, and only the NCAA and MLB sent comments that carried real value.

“It appears to me, and the members of this commission, that most leagues couldn’t care less that their leagues are being subjected to possibilities of manipulation,” O’Dwyer said. “I find the response from the leagues underwhelming, to say the least, and disappointing, to say the most.”

For New York, the issue is bigger than a few missing emails. O’Dwyer made clear that silence from the NFL, NBA, and other pro leagues could leave the commission making its own calls on which player prop bets remain available across the eight online sportsbooks operating in the state. New York first opened that review in February after betting scandals in MLB and the NBA raised fresh questions about game specific props and how easy some markets may be to target.

New York had asked leagues to identify any prop wagers that should be restricted, capped, or taken off the board. Regulators also said they were open to acting faster than the usual 60 day timeline if leagues flagged urgent integrity concerns. Without much input, though, the state may set those limits by itself.

“They may not be concerned about the integrity of their processes, but we are concerned about the integrity of their processes,” O’Dwyer said.

That stance fits the wider betting story in the U.S. right now. The NCAA has been pushing states to block college player props for nearly two years, while MLB agreed with major sportsbooks in November to cap bets on individual pitches at $200 and keep those wagers out of parlays after a case involving Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Federal prosecutors said the pair took bribes to manipulate certain pitches for bettors, a case that added more pressure on regulators already reviewing prop markets.

Even so, New York has not fully shut the door on the leagues. O’Dwyer said the commission still wants more detailed responses instead of broad public statements or empty support.

“I hope that we get a better response, more concern from the leagues than just lip service,” O’Dwyer said.