New York State took a step closer to legalized and regulated online poker on Tuesday. New York's Senate Finance Committee voted to send a bill seeking to legalize and regulate online poker in the state to the Senate floor.
The state of New York is taking up the effort to legalize online poker once again in 2017, and the current bill that aims to do so, S3898, would place the ongoing regulation of the New York State Gaming Commission (NYGC).
There's a long and storied history of gambling in the State of New York. However, it's clear the state's gaming industry, which now includes racetracks, Native American casinos, Racinos and commercial casino properties, did not take shape overnight.
New York State lawmakers have yet to pass legislation to legalize and regulate online poker in the state, but at least one branch of the government is including the measure in its latest budget proposals.
With momentum on the side of two separate yet identical poker bills on the floor of the Senate and Assembly in New York this year, the Poker Players Alliance says now is the time for New Yorkers to contact their local representatives and urge them to support the idea of licensed and regulated online poker across the state.