New York’s Push for Online Poker; Hear from a Lawmaker Leading the Charge

After three years of failing to get online poker through the state legislature, New York’s Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. is back asking lawmakers to bring online poker to the state’s nearly 20 million residents.

Addabbo, who spoke to PokerNews about his Senate Bill S2614, is not alone in his efforts. Seven other states are considering legalizing online poker, according to gaming industry analyst Steve Ruddock: Virginia, Massachusetts, Indiana, Maryland, Wyoming, Hawaii and New Hampshire.

Read More About Online Poker in New York

Bringing Online Gaming to New York

Of all the states looking to legalize online poker, New York stands out as one of the biggest states in the country that could bring much-needed shared liquidity to US online poker.

“I don’t like a non-safe gaming environment for our New Yorkers,” Addabbo told PokerNews in an interview. “I know they’re doing it, but either they’re going to (New) Jersey or another state or they’re doing it illegally. And it’s unsafe.”

Addabbo, who isn’t a poker player himself, said online gambling could bring in millions in revenue and pointed to an upcoming “multi-billion dollar deficit” in New York’s 2026 and 2027 budgets. “I’m trying to say you need sustainable revenue in New York. And here it is.”

Addabbo’s S2614 is a broad igaming bill that would legalize and regulate “poker, table games, tournaments” and other forms of online gambling. It would also address the sweepstakes model “loophole” that Addabbo criticized as unregulated and “geared towards younger residents.”

“I enter every year with a sense of optimism but also being a realist”

Addabbo, who is chair of the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, introduced similar bills in past years that failed to get through the legislature. But he is confident the bill addresses the concerns of gambling critics such as gambling addiction, which the bill would allocate $11 million annually towards.

Additionally, the bill would put $25 million toward maintaining casino jobs to address concerns that igaming “would cannibalize the brick and mortar casinos.”

“I enter every year with a sense of optimism but also being a realist,” Addabbo said. “I know what the hurdles are.”

Eight States Looking to Legalize Online Poker

New York isn’t the only state looking at online poker this year as seven other states have introduced similar legislation.

For example, Massachusetts’ Rep. Daniel Cahill introduced a bill “Regulating Internet Gaming,” while Maryland’s Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary introduced a bill for “Internet Gaming Authorization and Implementation.”

Last year, PokerStars sponsored the $1m GTD Maryland State Poker Championships, with Ben Gazzola taking home $110,578 after defeating a 245-player field.

Virginia’s Sen. Mami Locke and Delegate Marcus Simon introduced an online gaming bills that have since been pushed back to 2026.

Less populated states like Hawaii (1.4 million residents), New Hampshire (1.4 million residents) and Wyoming (584,000 residents) are also considering igaming legislation in January.

Poker Industry PRO reported that four states were looking to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA): Maryland, Virginia, Wyoming and Massachusetts.

While the bill doesn’t include specific language about New York joining the MSIGA, Addabbo said he supported such “interstate competition.”

“It’s a very competitive arena, whether you’re talking about igaming or online poker,” Addabbo said. “If you don’t offer the product that’s optimal for people of the state, they will find other ways. They’ll go back to doing it illegally or go to another state. So you want to offer them the best possible product.”

Poker is currently legal and regulated in Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.

States Considering Online Poker Bills

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_{*Photo courtesy WikiCommons}

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.