The news follows a similar move by Sen. Joe Addabbo who has already introduced SB8412 to the Senate. The new bill to be filed in the House will be a companion bill to Sen. Addabbo’s proposed legislation.
However, Pretlow expects some pushback from lawmakers saying:
Legal Online Casino Gaming Could be on the Cards in New York“There’s a lot of resistance in the Assembly. That’s not a secret. Everyone knows there’s resistance in the Assembly to this, but I want to overcome that resistance.”
“If anything, it might make it more difficult after how the rollout went, because people see there’s a large appetite for gambling. A lot of people are concerned that there’s too much gambling. Some people want to pull back a little.”
In previous attempts to legalize online casino gaming, the state has separated online poker and classified it as a game of skill. This was seen as a necessary step as it circumvented the need for a constitutional amendment. However, Pretlow believes that this has changed thanks to the success of mobile sports betting in New York.
Legal Online Casino Gaming Could be on the Cards in New York“If we go by the same thought pattern as with mobile sports betting, that the server at a casino is where the bet is made, that should be the same as betting with online casino.”
Addabbo’s bill proposes two online casino skins for each commercial and tribal casino.
However, Pretlow stressed that while he would introduce his companion bill in this legislative session, he would not be pushing for approval this year and that 2023 would be the earliest that online casinos could launch in the state.
