Could online poker be coming to New York ? As poker players in legal markets know first hand, governmental efforts toward online gaming move slowly. But there seems to be a growing push for legalized iGaming in the Empire State.
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D) is leading the charge after helping to get mobile sports betting legalized in the state. While online casino gaming is the main effort, some believe poker would be included as well.
The goal is to reach legalization sometime in 2023 and Addabbo appears to have supporters in state government. That includes Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), which bodes well for any attempts at legalization.
“Gov. Hochul and her administration have been so amenable,” Addabbo recently told PlayNY.com , “so willing to have an open-door discussion about gaming: mobile sports betting, downstate licenses, horse racing. Something we couldn’t even fathom to think about under a previous administration. “It’s welcoming. It’s actually nice to have that kind of professionalism to actually have these kinds of conversations. So I look forward to having a conversation with the Hochul administration before January, before the executive budget and even during the budget process.” More revenue to state coffers
Along with a Democrat in the New York governor’s mansion, both houses of the state legislature are also controlled by Democrats. That offers some partners for any legislative efforts by Addabbo.
As states look to add additional revenue streams, online gaming has become a more popular discussion topic among state legislators. State revenue would help fund New York education.
“They know me to just be rational in terms of what we’re trying to promote here: the jobs, the revenue funding, the educational funding, the addiction issues,” Addabbo said of working with colleagues in New York. “All I use is facts and figures. They know we can have a rational conversation, I hear their concerns. Many of their concerns sometimes get incorporated into the statutory language, and they’re thankful that we include them. “I think it’s important to have that process of including all going forward. Most of my colleagues know that we’re going to look […]
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