On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering of New York voted in favor of Senate Bill S5302, a bill that would legalize and regulate online poker gaming within the state. The Senate Committee voted 9-0 in favor of the measure, which will allow certain interactive poker games to be considered a game of skill. The vote marks the first time that an online poker bill has moved past the committee within the state.
Chairman of the Senate Committee and sponsor of the measure, State Senator John Bonacic stated that the bill took a necessary step forward on Tuesday with the vote from the Racing Committee. The bill will now move on to the Finance Committee and Bonacic anticipates having discussions with his colleagues in both Houses in regards to the bill as the session moves forward.
John Pappas, the Poker Players Alliances Executive Director, commented in a press release on the matter, thanking Bonacic and the Committee for acting quickly to pass the legislation. If the bill is passed into law, Pappas states that New Yorkers will be able to enjoy online poker in a safe and regulated environment, at the same time bringing revenues to the state. The PPA is now urging the Finance Committee to move quickly to pass legislation through the Senate and also urges the Assembly to move forward with the respective legislation.
The state of New York just recently saw three casino licenses awarded by the New York Gaming Commission and legislators seem to be focused on land based gaming at the moment. The PPA wants to see lawmakers focusing on online poker as well. In the same press release, Pappas stated that it would be a mistake for New York to wait for the brick-and-mortar casinos to be finished to move online.
If online poker legislation was established now, a customer base would be created, individuals who would be ready to enjoy the land based gaming once complete. The casinos should open next year, which gives the state this year to pass online poker legislation.
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