John Bonacic introduced online poker bills in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
For the third time in thirteen months, the New York State Legislature is discussing an online poker bill. State Senator John Bonacic introduced his latest online poker bill to the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, where it passed by a 10-1 margin.
Sen. Bonacic’s bill next goes to the New York Senate’s Finance Committee. If that committee passes the measure, then it goes to the floor of the senate for an up-or-down vote. The last two years, the New York Senate passed an online poker bill by wide margins, so it is expected to pass again.
Whether S.3898 is successful beyond the floor of the New York Senate is another matter. While Gov. Andrew Cuomo likely would sign an online poker bill to help generate revenues for the disappointing land-based casinos he championed a few years back, the New York General Assembly is a concern for advocates of online gambling.
Gary Pretlow’s Cold Feet
The last two times, online poker legislation died in the New York General Assembly. Both times, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow sought to shepherd a poker bill through the Assembly, but both attempts failed.
In December 2016, Assemblyman Pretlow pulled back from online poker, saying he wanted to study geolocation and other technologies that would make Internet poker safe and legal. After discussing the issues with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Pretlow sounded more certain of the measure in the first half of 2017.
Senate Bill 3898
In 2017, Bonacic’s S.3898 online poker bill passed 10-1 in the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. On June 13, the bill passed in the Senate by a 54-8 margin. Meanwhile, Gary Pretlow’s A.5250 online poker bill languished in the General Assembly.
Towards the end of June 2017, Pretlow finally admitted that A.5250 would not pass in 2017. He sounded optimistic that the measure could pass in 2018. Perhaps Assemblyman Pretlow was right, because S.3898 was given new life on January 3.
Del Lago and Rivers Casino’s Revenue Troubles
This time, all the elements might be in place for an online poker bill. Last year, it seemed that New York lawmakers wanted to see how the land-based casinos like Del Lago and Rivers Casino did in their first year of operation. Pretlow hinted that was on his mind, as well.
One year after the grand openings of New York State’s latest brick-and-mortar casinos, those operations are struggling to match revenue goals. For instance, Del Lago was projected to generate $250 million last year, but produced only $150 million. Rivers Casino came closer to its goals, but still has a disappointing year.
A year ago, the land-based casinos might have seen new launched of online poker as a potential distraction or stiff competition. Now, they might view online poker as a lifeline. New Jersey’s online gambling industry generated $245 million in 2017, so gaming portals that would allow Del Lago or Rivers Casino to reach New York City’s poker players might not sound so bad.
Pennsylvania Online Gaming Laws
Also, Pennsylvania passed online gambling in October 2017, after the last New York online poker bill died. With another nearby state preparing for a rollout of online gambling sites themselves, New York’s lawmakers might decide the time to launch their own online cardrooms.
While Pennsylvania online gambling would not draw many New Yorkers out of state, it might have an effect in the counties near Pennsylvania, where players could drive across the state border to enjoy iPoker. It is the fact fewer gamblers likely would be driving out-of-state to play at New York land casinos that might convince the legislature to pass an online poker bill.
John Bonacic’s Online Poker Bill
Many gaming experts included New York on the short list of US states which might legalize online gambling in 2018, alongside Massaschusetts and Oklahoma. Certainly, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) gave its well wishes to the efforts of Sen. John Bonacic and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, saying in tweet, “Need to turn all this early in the year activity into some tangible results!”
Why online casino legislation is never talked about in the New York State Legislature is another question. New Jersey’s online poker sites are doing well, but it is the Garden State’s online casinos which are generating the bulk of the revenues. If one wants to help Del Lago or Rivers Casino, passing an online casino companion bill could be pivotal.
