An Empire State senator is determined to add some form of online gaming in New York.
Sen. Joseph Addabbo couldn’t drum up enough support for a 2023 bill to bring iGaming, online poker, and iLottery to New York.
He hoped refiling his legislative attempt, SB8185, in 2024 would ease the state’s rising budget deficit with a 30% tax rate, but that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, either. So the Empire State senator is taking a slower approach.
Addaboo filed SB9226, which calls for online poker, with the Senate Gaming, Wagering, and Racing Committee on Tuesday.
Addabbo’s legislation also defines poker as a game of skill, not chance, and would amend the racing, pari-mutuel, wagering, and breeding law.
What we’re seeing is that mobile sports betting in New York is being perceived as the No. 1 product in the country. We should build upon that. The timing for iGaming is perfect in the sense that we’re showing that New Yorkers have the propensity and the desire to game with a device, as well as going through a brick-and-mortar site, but poker is very popular, so why miss out on that segment? I think it’s something that you have to consider.
Uphill climb
SB9226 is companion legislation with Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow’s AB1380, which was filed in January and also calls for online poker. Pretlow has introduced several similar bills over the last decade but has yet to see his latest attempt move in the Assembly.
When the 2024 approved state budget was announced in January by Gov. Kathy Hochul, revenue from those forms of online gaming was not mentioned — a clear indicator that SB8185 didn’t stand much of a chance.
Online sports betting through nine licensed operators and pari-mutuel wagering are the only forms of gambling legislators and the governor has shown interest in, meaning attempts by Addabbo and Pretlow could fall on deaf ears once again.
Maybe focusing on poker could spark some interest and be a gateway into other online wagering down the road.
Are times changing?
Should the online poker bills advance through the Assembly and Senate, they would still have to get by Hochul’s desk.
If nothing changes in 2024, it’s likely online gaming proponents will continue their efforts through legislation due to the need for more tax revenue mixed with the amount being left on the table by not adding other forms of online gaming besides sports betting.
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said last week during the sports betting and iGaming company’s quarterly conference call that he foresees changes coming to the online casino industry, although he didn’t mention New York specifically.
I also think the need for tax revenues is going to increase. I think there’s some delay in that with some of the COVID relief money that was sent to states.
