An online poker bill will be considered in the New York State Senate, after it passed its final committee hurdle on Tuesday. Introduced in January, S 3898 calls for the legalization of online poker as a game of skill.
Members of the Senate’s Finance Committee passed the proposed legislation on Tuesday without any preceding debates. (READ SO: ADELSON PROPOSAL TOOK A COMPLETELY TURN AROUND: LOOSE THE WAR?)
In March, S 3898 was tacked onto New York’s budget but plans for the effort to be considered during budget talks were scrapped quickly. Lawmakers indicated that they preferred discussing online poker as a standalone matter.
The Senate bill still has quite a lot of legislative hurdles to overcome, but many believe that it has gained the necessary legislative support to be passed this year. If the bill is signed into law, interested online poker operators will be able to apply for a license from the New York State Gaming Commission. New York-facing operators will be taxed at 15% on gross revenue, with the money being contributed to the state’s coffers.
