New York iPoker Efforts Over for 2017

New York was considered one of the best potential candidates for passing online poker legislation in 2017, but all bets now appear off for 2017 after it was revealed that the Assembly would not be taking a vote on the proposal before the chamber adjourns on June 21st. Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (photo) has led the push to have online poker accepted in the Empire State since 2014, and commenting upon the latest development, stated:
“There was some opposition. We’ll pick it up next year more than likely.”
State Sen. John Bonacic has also been involved in the push towards legislation, and earlier this month had a companion bill to Pretlow’s AB 5250 pass in the Senate by a wide margin of 53-9. Bonacic and Pretlow’s bills were then to be merged in the Assembly, but unfortunately have now stalled in the Standing Committee on Codes.
One of the key points of contention concerning the legislation is the approach to be taken towards “bad actors,” such as PokerStars, who flaunted the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by accepting payments from New York residents post its introduction in 2006. New York could have benefitted from the experience provided by having the world’s biggest online poker room operate in state, not to mention from the opportunity to form an interstate compact with neighboring New Jersey where PokerStars also operates. While some interested parties were able to see the transformative possibilities provided by PokerStars, others have lobbied hard against the brand’s inclusion, including MGM Resorts International.
Highlighting the divisive nature of the “bad actors” clause, which has held back regulation efforts in other states over the years too, most noticeably California, Pretlow said:
“Some people say we don’t have strong enough penalties for bad actor, while some people say the penalties are too strong.”
With New York leaving the running for 2017, Pennsylvania and Illinois are now seen as the next best candidates for introducing online poker legislation in the US this year.