On the eve of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes, New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang released her office’s 2023 Annual Report on Gaming Commission Oversight, detailing the ongoing efforts to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability within the state’s thriving gaming industry.
"From the backstretches to the barns, casino floors to mobile sports wagering apps, I am proud of the dedication of my staff to ensure New York State’s gaming industry provides a level playing field for all,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “In the short time Gaming Commission Oversight has fallen under my office’s jurisdiction, we have made enormous strides in training not only our own staff on how to identify and root out misconduct in various gaming contexts, but also taken that knowledge to the Commission staff we oversee in over thirty in-person trainings. I look forward to the public learning about these efforts and more in our 2023 Annual Report.”
Gaming, gambling, wagering, and the services which accompany its many forms, is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise in New York State, spanning the entire geographic stretch of the state. The operating processes and regulatory requirements for these industries are overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission. Since July 18, 2021, in order to ensure the absence of any self-dealing, conflict, or other fraud in the Commission’s execution of these responsibilities, the Offices of the New York State Inspector General (OIG) has had specific statutory authority to receive and investigate complaints from any source regarding allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest or abuse in the Commission and to undertake proactive initiatives aimed at preventing, eliminating, and/or detecting such concerns.
As detailed in the Inspector General’s 2023 Annual Report, this past year yielded a record number of gaming-related complaints, including a more than 20% increase from the year prior and 150% increase compared 2021. 2023 also saw OIG engage in extensive outreach and in-person training efforts, involving almost 300 full-time, part-time, and per diem Commission employees.
In addition, the report includes a detailed review of the impact of the 2022 legalization of Mobile Sports Wagering (MSW) in New York State and OIG’s efforts to ensure its integrity. Since its introduction in January 2022 to December 2023, MSW exceeded all estimates and expectations, generating over $1.5 Billion in State MSW tax revenue.
"Given all the changes and gaming initiatives on the horizon, it will be crucial that OIG continue to increase its visibility with the public, other law enforcement organizations, and of course, the Commission and its licensees and vendors," Lang continued. "I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Deputy Inspector General for Gaming Lisa Lee and the entire OIG team for their invaluable contributions to our mission.”
Read the IG’s complete report here and follow the office’s work @NewYorkStateIG.
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