A child looks at Santa Claus with wonder, having seen him for the first time.
Photo courtesy Office of Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
Dressed as Santa Claus, Queens Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., on Dec. 6 brought much holiday joy to dozens of children and their families in the District 15 community that he represents.
Addabbo shared his time between the kids at his District Office in Woodhaven and the other half at his District Office in Middle Village.
Attendees took pictures with Santa and enjoyed complimentary hot chocolate and donut munchkins.
The senator said each child received a toy and was given the opportunity to fill out a wish list to send to Santa at the North Pole.
“It always brings me tremendous happiness to be able to see the big smiles on the faces of the children as they meet Santa and receive a toy,” Addabbo said.
“My staff and I try to capture the warmth of the season by offering these festivities for the youth,” he added.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Addabbo, chair of the Senate’s Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, announced that his bill (S.5935A) was signed into law (Chapter 605), officially banning illegal dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos in New York.
He said the measure represents a major step in protecting consumers and ensuring that any state-authorized gaming activity available to New Yorkers meets the highest standards of safety, transparency, and regulatory oversight.
“With the enactment of the new law, it is now prohibited to operate, promote, or profit from online sweepstakes casino-style games that use dual currencies and offer players the chance to win cash or cash-equivalent prizes, since such online activity is not currently authorized by New York State,” he said.
“Sweepstakes casinos mimic online casino gambling without any of the state’s strict safeguards,” Addabbo continued. “These unregulated, illegal platforms have proliferated in recent years, putting New Yorkers at risk with no consumer protections, no responsible-gaming requirements, and no oversight from the New York State Gaming Commission.
“If a game on your phone or computer looks like a casino game, acts like a casino game, and pays out real money winnings like a casino game, then it is a casino gambling game, thus currently illegal and should not operate in New York without proper regulation, safeguards, and accountability,” Addabbo continued. “This law makes it clear: these unregulated sweepstakes casinos were not only unsafe, but they were operating illegally.”
