New York Online Poker News, Developments

New York Online Poker News

Online Poker Strikes Out Again In New York, And The Blame Continues To Shift
By Steve Ruddock on July 2, 2018
When it comes to online poker, New York is a veritable excuse machine. The state's inaction has led to plenty of finger pointing, but who...
NY Lawmaker: Online Poker Was Just Eight Votes Away From Passing
By Matthew Kredell on June 28, 2018
New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow says he was eight Democrats away from getting the online poker bill put to a vote last week at the...
New York Online Poker Is Officially Dead Until 2019
By Steve Ruddock on June 21, 2018
On Wednesday night the New York Assembly threw in the towel on the 2018 legislative session. Online poker and sports betting are among the items...
Is MGM’s Acquisition Of Empire City Casino Good News For NY Online Poker?
By Steve Ruddock on May 29, 2018
The possibility of legal New York online poker just got a boost with the news that MGM Resorts is purchasing Empire City Casino in Yonkers.
NY Assembly Has Mixed Emotions When It Comes To Online Poker
By Steve Ruddock on May 24, 2018
Assemblyman Gary Pretlow and the New York Assembly appear ready to tackle sports betting but can't seem to make up their mind when it comes...
Lawmaker Pushes For NY Online Poker In Letter To Assembly Speaker
By Matthew Kredell on May 19, 2018
New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow appears serious about getting an online poker bill passed next month in a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
Key Senator’s Retirement Creates Urgency For NY Online Poker Legislation
By Eric Ramsey on April 30, 2018
The timeline for legalizing online poker in New York has seemingly gotten a little tighter after Sen. John Bonacic announced his pending retirement.
Dozens Of Lawmakers Line Up Behind NY Online Poker Bill, Which Could Be Combined With Sports Betting
By Matthew Kredell on April 20, 2018
As official support for the online poker bill in the New York Assembly increases rapidly, the legislation's author remains tepid on its prospects for this...
Can NY Finally Thread The Needle On Online Poker? ‘We Have A Good Shot Of Getting It Through This Year’
By Matthew Kredell on April 10, 2018
New York Assemblyman Clyde Vanel advised to watch the Assembly bill to license and regulate online poker over the next few weeks, because the number...
Online Poker Shut Out Of New York Budget Again; Progress May Hinge On Sports Betting
By Eric Ramsey on April 1, 2018
For the third straight year, New York lawmakers tried to include online gambling in their budget proposals. And for the third straight year, it's not going...
New York Senate Puts Online Poker, Sports Betting In Its New Budget
By Dustin Gouker on March 14, 2018
The proposed budget that came out of the New York Senate includes the legalization of both online poker and sports wagering. The top line for...
NY Online Poker And Sports Betting: A Match Made In Heaven Or A Recipe For Disaster?
By Dustin Gouker on February 1, 2018
Recent weeks have seen the confluence of two different possible gaming expansions in New York -- online poker and sports betting.
NY Online Poker Sponsor Says He’s ‘Going To Redouble’ Efforts To Pass Bill In 2018
By Matthew Kredell on January 26, 2018
Female members of the New York Assembly are keeping the state from legalizing and regulating online poker, according to bill author Gary Pretlow.
Game On For 2018: New York Online Poker Bill Advances Out Of Committee
By Dustin Gouker on January 24, 2018
It's a busy week for the possibility of expanded gambling in New York, and that includes online poker.
New York Online Poker Bills Stir To Life As 2018 Legislative Session Begins
By Dustin Gouker on January 4, 2018
A pair of New York online poker bills are officially back on the table as the legislative session begins in the state.
New York Takes Raffle Sales Online; Will Poker, Sports Betting Be Next?
By Dustin Gouker on December 26, 2017
It's not online poker or online sports betting, but people in New York do have a new way to gamble online.
New York Online Poker Bill: Only Mostly Dead, But Still Alive For 2018
By Matthew Kredell on June 27, 2017
New York will likely have to wait until 2018 for online poker, as a bill is not likely to come up during a special session...
New York Online Poker Chances: ‘Slim, But Not Very Slim’ Lawmaker Says
By Matthew Kredell on June 16, 2017
New York Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow said an online poker bill has a slim chance of passing the legislature before it adjourns next week.
New York, Illinois And Pennsylvania Are Coming Down To The Wire On Online Gambling
By Dustin Gouker on June 16, 2017
The next few weeks loom as the biggest in the short history of regulated US online poker and gambling, with action expected in three states.
Key Senator ‘More Optimistic’ That NY Online Poker Will Pass This Year
By Matthew Kredell on June 15, 2017
New York state Sen. John Bonacic said that he is more optimistic than last year about the Assembly approving an online poker bill that the...
New York Senate Passes Online Poker Bill, But Will The Assembly Follow Along?
By Steve Ruddock on June 13, 2017
The New York Senate passed an online poker bill, but before New Yorkers can legally play online poker, the bill will have to pass the...
New ‘Bad Actor’ Language In NY Online Poker Bill Casts More Doubt On Its Already Cloudy Future
By Dustin Gouker on June 6, 2017
The New York Senate amended legislation that would legalize online poker in the state, adding "bad actor" language aimed at PokerStars.
New York Senate Finance Committee Advances Online Poker Bill; Now It Moves To The Full Senate
By Steve Ruddock on May 9, 2017
On Tuesday, the New York Senate Finance Committee approved online poker legislation put forward by John Bonacic. The bill moves to the full New York...
New York Online Poker Still A No-Go In Budget; Attention Turns To Standalone Bills
By Dustin Gouker on March 30, 2017
With a deadline looming, it appears a bid to legalize New York online poker via the state budget is not in the cards.
Exclusive: Pretlow Ready To Battle For New York Online Poker This Year, But Doesn’t Believe Budget Will Be The Vehicle
By Matthew Kredell on March 20, 2017
A key New York lawmaker sees little chance of online poker being included in the state budget, but hopes that a summer push will get...

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Inside NY Online Poker
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.