New attempt to legalize online poker in New York
The bill S9226, presented by Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr.can allow New York to grant up to ten online poker licenses. A fifteen percent tax rate would apply to these licenses.
This legislative session marks Senator Addabbo‘s third attempt to legalize online gambling in New York, which raises the question: Will it be successful this time?
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, chaired by Senator Addabbo, a strong supporter of regulated online poker. There’s not much time left; the legislative session ends on June 6 and his prior bills on related problems have not progressed.
The proposed legislation includes:
- Issuing a maximum of ten poker online licenses
- A $10 million one-time license charge for operators
- Licenses valid for ten years
- A 15% gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax rate
Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow also introduced a bill with similar provisions, however it called for eleven licenses rather than ten.
There are just sixteen session days remaining before the recess begins, so the legislative process must proceed quickly if the law is to be passed. The legislature can be brought back to discuss outstanding legislation until January 2025, even though they will be recessing on June 6.