It was only a few days ago that we reported on New York officially closing the door on even considering an online poker bill. However, it seems that this is not quite the case anymore. The recent budget that was passed didn’t actually incorporate any plans to legalise online gambling at all – including online poker. Naturally, this led to most people believing it to be dead and in the water, yet again. However, a recent story led by the Online Poker Report (OPR) seems to suggest that it could actually be approved before the end of 2018.
Chair of the Subcommittee on Internet and New Technology, Clyde Vanel spoke to the OPR in order to discuss the current status of A 5250 – a rule that would determine poker as a game that requires skills, not one of luck. The Democrat, who entered office in 2016, said that he believes this measure will soon expand its support to between about 60 and 70 sponsors. It currently has support from 13 different co-sponsors. Should this belief actually become a reality, it’s not an unreasonable prediction to think that New York would then go on to pass an online poker bill later on in the year, he said.
But could it really come to fruition? It’s been a very slow process for the politicians within New York, who have tried advancing poker bills for the past several years. While bills have passed through a Senate vote highly successfully, due to a lack of support, they haven’t even made it to a vote with the State Assembly. In essence, the bills haven’t even found themselves as anything to be considered by the Assembly.
What’s Different Now?
There’s a prediction from Vanel that 2018 will be different though. And while this may just seem like another random statement from a politician, people may not want to cast judgement on Vanel just yet. He holds a degree in law and has a strong history of fighting for things that he wants to happen. His political career started out back in 2009, which was the first of his multiple attempts to get himself elected. He finally won a seat in 2016 as a New York Assemblyman. It’s that kind of attitude and drive that could potentially force the online poker bill through.
New York actually exists as one of the few key states that has recently been considering online legislation in general. Internet poker is currently only available within three US States – New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. A fourth state in Pennsylvania is currently in the process of setting up licensing and applications for its range of land-based casinos to take advantage of too. However, the poker community of the US requires additional states to join the bandwagon. This is especially true of those locations with a large populous – exactly like New York!
