New York Online Poker Bill Faces A Difficult Path To Passage In 2019

Even though it was late to the party, New York is fast becoming a serious contender for online poker expansion.

The first rumblings of NY online poker

Online poker was first broached in 2013, as a potential funding source for the state's budget; an idea that never gained any traction.

The following year, in March of 2014, a bill seeking to legalize online poker, S 6913, was introduced by state Sen. John Bonacic, who would become online poker's biggest cheerleader in New York in the years to come. Several months later, in July of 2014, Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow introduced a similar online poker bill in the State Assembly.

Recognizing the mood in the legislature, Bonacic called his 2014 bill a conversation starter, and stated that he never intended to make a serious push for online poker expansion in 2014.

The biggest hurdle online poker will have to overcome in the New York legislature is the attitude voiced by several key politicians that online legislation needs to wait until the state completes their current gaming expansion project, three new brick & mortar casinos.

2015 in review

In May of 2015 Bonacic reintroduced his online poker bill, S 5302, but once again the legislature didn't act on it, and entering 2016, online poker had never even warranted a hearing.

2016 in review

Last year saw real progress made on online poker.

It started off with some forward momentum via committee hearings. Then, Bonacic managed to get his iPoker bill through the Senate with a lopsided vote of 53-5 late in the legislative session.

However, Pretlow said the issue didn't have support in his chamber, and the bill died on the vine. In the wake of that, Pretlow cited a variety of concerns, including whether poker is a "game of skill" and the issues of security and cheating at sites.

Daily fantasy sports was legalized and regulated by the government in 2016.

Looking ahead to 2017

Online poker is already on some lawmakers' radar, will bills likely coming from both Bonacic and Pretlow again. Pretlow seems more eager to push things in the Assembly this year, but time will tell if that is true.

New York seems to be steeped in an arms race of sorts with its neighbor. As the topic continues to gain momentum in Pennsylvania, New York seems to resurrect the possibility of online poker expansion.

New York's best hope is for Pennsylvania to pass an online gambling bill, which could accelerate action in the Empire State. That could lead to more bills and an informational hearing or two, which would set the stage for a strong online poker push in 2017.