New York online poker may join the table before online casino does. That’s because a state legislator introduced a bill today to legalize the card game.
State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, sponsored A1380.
Pretlow’s proposed legislation omits online casino gambling, which state Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., D-Ozone Park, previously told Bonus he will introduce in the New York State Senate this year. Addabbo hasn’t yet done so.
Addabbo is also in favor of legalizing New York online poker, as well as joining the Multistate Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). However, agreeing to interstate online poker play tends to come after the launch of the marketplace.
In the past, Addabbo and Pretlow have advocated for the same gambling expansion bills.
Meanwhile, Pretlow didn’t immediately respond today to a request for comment from Bonus about his 8-page bill.
New York Online Poker Bill Would Expand Gambling
Pretlow – the chairman of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Racing and Wagering, where his bill sits – is building on an already busy year of gambling expansion.
Many forms of gambling are already legal in New York. A dozen commercial casinos and 19 tribal facilities generated $3.64 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during 2021, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).
A board appointed by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) began accepting applications on Jan. 3, 2023. Applicants must answer the first round of questions from the New York Gaming Facility Board (NYGFB) by Feb. 3. Only then will they be in the running for three new Downstate New York retail casino licenses, which will cost $500 million each.
On Jan. 8, 2022, New York online sportsbooks launched. From that launch date to Jan. 8, 2023, sports betting generated $665,951,556 in tax revenue, according to NY Sports Day.
Doubtless, online poker alone will generate a lot less GGR than mobile sports betting.
That’s not just because the bill legalizing online poker in New York proposes a 15% tax rate. That’s a far lower rate than the 51% tax rate on New York online sportsbooks.
However, Bonus estimates legal New York online casino gambling could generate $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion a year, if iGaming is taxed at the sports betting rate.
Considering New York lawmakers are seeking tax revenue in the wake of lost federal aid, Addabbo believes they will want to discuss legalizing online casino gambling soon.
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