Online could hurt bricks-and-mortar casinos
New York State’s Conservative Party has called on state legislators to resist legal online gaming in the state.
According to a statement released to the New York Daily News, “New York may consider legalizing online gaming, just after promoting the building of seven new casinos. Internet gambling is a threat to established gambling sites that have rigorous licensing and regulations established by the state designed to prevent money laundering and underage gambling.
“States also establish regulations to collect taxes to provide what was promised to its citizens,” the statement continued. “Gambling on the internet would be unregulated and possibly attract national and international crime syndicates or terrorist organizations intent on hiding money to facilitate the purchase of weapons.”
If New York allows iGaming, the conservatives fear, the job growth promoted in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s casino expansion plan “in all likelihood, will never materialize.” That plan, approved by voters last fall, includes four casinos to be located upstate, followed by three more in seven years.
The conservatives are also worried about the potential for increased gambling addiction.
“Internet gambling targets the weak individuals most likely to become gambling addicts since they would be able to gamble at any time on any given day without ever leaving home, thus increasing costs to taxpayers instead of benefiting them,” said the statement.
“Internet gambling is a terrible idea and New York state legislators should reject it. In fact, our state legislators should pass a resolution urging the members of Congress to restore the long-standing policy of banning internet gambling.”
