New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow is taking another shot at legalizing online poker in the state by re-introducing a bill that would classify poker as a game of skill, not a game of chance.
Pretlow has been trying to advance an online poker bill since 2014 and says online poker could bring significant tax revenue to the state.
“Presently, numerous New York residents are participating in illegal, unregulated and unsafe gaming operations which offer games of chance over the Internet,” Pretlow said in a statement accompanying the bill. “This bill will allow the state to license operators that meet the high standards set by the state and offer limited games of poker which require a high level of skill.”
The bill would charge licensees a one-time $2 million fee and tax gross revenues at 15 percent according to a report at Casino.org.
Prospects for the bill could be dim, however, as New York Attorney general Eric Schneiderman is fighting a legal battle with online daily fantasy sports sites in the state. Schneiderman wants the sites shut down saying thee constitute illegal gambling under New York law.
Some analysts feel that the state passing a new online gambling law while that fight plays out in court seems like a longshot, according to Casino.org’s report.
The Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee will discuss the bill at a future hearing.
