New York senator introduces bill to legalize online poker with each license priced at $10 million

New York Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) introduced bill 9226 on Tuesday, which calls for the legalization of online poker. The bill, if passed, would bring up to 10 online poker operators to the Empire State, and each license would cost $10 million and last for 10 years, at a tax rate of 15%. The New York State Gaming Commission would regulate the online poker market.

Soon after its introduction, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, a legislative panel that Addabbo chairs. It is the third iGaming bill that Addabbo has introduced during the current legislative session, which meets biennially.

The New York State Legislature will recess on June 6th, but legislative leaders like Addabbo can call lawmakers back for a quick session. That means lawmakers could take up the bill at any time until the last day of the session, which will be sometime in early January 2025.

Earlier during the session, Addabbo also hoped to legalize various forms of online gambling in New York, including mobile casino apps. The effort to legalize iCasinos in New York was unsuccessful, although the topic is likely to come up again during the 2025 legislative session.

The Queens-based lawmaker has been the state's leading advocate for digital gambling expansion and the driving force behind mobile sports betting legalization. He has previously called his efforts to tax and regulate online casinos and iLottery "a matter of when, not if." According to him, iGaming could not only rival but potentially outperform New York sports betting. 

No states have legalized online casinos this year. However, New York industry insiders see the Empire State as one of the states most likely to legalize online casinos in the coming years.