New York has seen massive returns since launching online sports betting in 2022. The state could also see the legalization of iGaming — including online poker — if an Empire State lawmaker gets his way.
Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D), who helped spearhead online sports betting legislation, plans to introduce online casino and lottery legislation in the next legislative session, which begins in January. Poker players in the state may be happy to see that Plans call for the game to be included.
“It’s something I agree with,” Addabbo said. Poker Industry Pro. “It shouldn’t just be about table games, it should include other games like poker.”
Great group of players
Online poker proponents have longed to see a country with a large population go down the path of legalization. The state has a population of nearly 20 million and could be a great addition to the multi-state Internet Gaming Compact (fenced), which allows for shared liquidity between poker operators in Nevada, Michigan, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Addabbo, who chairs the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Commission, said that besides legalizing online poker, the legislation would allow accession to multi-state agreements such as fenced. Shared fluidity “is something I’ve thought about. When I look at tournaments, I don’t just look at in-state tournaments, I look at interstate tournaments as well,” he noted.
The state faces a huge budget shortfall, with recent projections suggesting a $36 billion gap over the next three years. That’s $15 billion higher than state officials originally estimated and includes just $9.1 billion for 2024. Online gaming and lotteries could help alleviate some of that burden, according to Addabbo.
“What we’re seeing is that mobile sports betting in New York is viewed as the No. 1 product in the country,” Addabbo said. Poker Industry Pro. “We have to build on that. The timing for iGaming is perfect, in the sense that we’re showing that New Yorkers have the inclination and desire to play on a device, in addition to passing through a physical location.
Changing the landscape of online poker in the United States
Merely proposing legislation does not necessarily mean the bill will be passed. Lawmakers have disagreed on online gaming issues in the past, but the success of sports betting and the financial crisis may convince state officials to reach an agreement.
Currently, only two online poker operators offer combined liquidity. PokerStars has a shared platform for players in Michigan and New Jersey. WSOP.com shares liquidity in Nevada and New Jersey, which previously also included 888poker in Delaware until that state changed its iGaming operator.
Adding New York will undoubtedly be a major target for operators in the shared liquidity environment and could give significant boosts to players and the prize pool.
