There is no bigger proponent for domestic online poker in the Empire State than Senator Joseph Addabbo of Howard Beach. Addabbo has sponsored three bills this session that would regulate local poker sites in New York, with the latest, S9226, introduced yesterday.
The bill’s next stop will be the Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee. Senator Addabo is the chair of that committee, so a favorable ruling is expected.
Senate Bill 9226 would permit up to ten licensed operators to offer online poker in New York state. The cost of each license would be set at a staggering $10 million.
Gamblers will need to be 21 or older to play online poker in NY.
A 15% tax rate will also be imposed on all poker revenue collected in NY. The New York State Gaming Commission has been assigned the task of governing online poker.
However, these license fees and taxes may not be terribly out of line, considering the size of the player pool. Current census data ranks the state population at just under 20 million, placing them fourth behind California, Texas, and Florida.
Geortracking software will be included in these poker apps and sites to ensure that players are located within state lines, as well as online cybersecurity measures to protect player data.
There are also provisions included to ensure fair and honest gameplay, with safeguards to prevent collusion and cheating. This includes bot detection technology to weed out disreputable players and elements.
Problem gaming funding and treatment options are also a part of the bill’s language.
The New York State Assembly will stand in recess starting June 6th, but session doesn’t officially end until January 2025. Translation: There’s still plenty of time on the clock for Addabbo to get his online poker bill across the finish line.
While the future may seem promising for online poker players in NY, keep in mind that this is the third session in a row that Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. has attempted to get real money hands of poker legalized.
The limited time on the calendar is not the only obstacle, as the bill would still require the signature of Governor Kelly Hochul if passed by the House and Senate.
Gov. Hochul has not declared a stance regarding online poker but did not include any web-based gambling measures in her annual budget proposal.
S2992 is not currently on the schedule for further debate.
Sources – US Census Bureau | New York State Assembly – Senate Bill 9226