Although it was filed late in the legislative session, a proposal supported by Senator Joseph Addabbo aims to spark interest in the ongoing efforts to legalize online gambling.
For years, New York lawmakers have attempted to legalize online poker, but these efforts have yet to succeed. A decade ago, Gary Pretlow introduced a bill proposing the legalization of online poker in the state.
While Pretlow’s bill did not gain traction, it served as a foundation for a new proposal filed by Sen. Joseph Addabbo, a long-time advocate for expanding gambling in the Empire State. Addabbo’s proposal, Senate Bill S9226, was filed earlier this month.
Currently, the bill is with the Senate’s Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee. Unlike Pretlow’s proposal, Addabbo’s bill specifically targets “internet poker,” calling for the legalization of games such as online Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hold’em.
Given its late introduction in the legislative session, S9226 is unlikely to gain much momentum. However, Addabbo, in an interview with PlayNY, stated that the bill was introduced to gauge interest. “It was updated to make it more accurate and to see if there was any interest. Maybe next year,” he added.
The iPoker proposal comes amid a broader push by New York lawmakers to expand legal gambling options for residents. Recently, a bill proposing the legalization of fantasy sports prop bets was introduced. This proposal aims to capitalize on the opportunity rather than losing such wagers to the black market.
In this context, Addabbo highlighted the exponential success of mobile sports betting. He noted, “You look for opportunities where New York is lagging behind, where New York is losing money to other states.”
Efforts to legalize online gambling in New York continue. According to Addabbo, it would not be frustrating if online poker is legalized before iGaming. He reiterated his concern that money is being lost to other states for such activities.
A recently released report suggests that nearly $10 billion is lost to illegal online gambling activities in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota. This figure represents approximately a quarter of the $40.91 billion lost to the unregulated sector across the country.
