Key Takeaways
- After some debate, the New York Senate voted 53-5 in favor of passing John Bonacic’s S. 5302 bill to legalize and regulate online poker.
- However, a major hurdle still remains—the passage of the bill through the State Assembly. And with two days remaining and the bill’s own sponsor apparently pessimistic, the future for online poker in New York remains murky.
A New York bill to license and regulate online poker passed through the State Senate on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority.
The smooth passage of the bill is a significant milestone and major victory for proponents of regulated online poker. The only other times an online gambling bill made progress through a State Senate—in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware—it has lead to the successful adoption of regulated online gambling.
However, a major hurdle still remains—the passage of the bill through the State Assembly. And with two days remaining and the bill’s own sponsor apparently pessimistic, the future for online poker in New York remains murky.
