New York poker bill adds modification

New York poker bill was modified and now allegedly includes PokerStars as a “bad actor”.

US.- As New York legislators are preparing the industry for a potential online poker regulation, PokerStars receives negative news. According to the Flush Draw news outlet, the most popular online poker platform may have been included in the state’s bill as a “bad actor,” meaning that the company would not be able to operate in the local market. The amendment has not been approved yet and the complete bill must be evaluated by the State Assembly.

In fact, a new amendment to the New York Senate Poker Bill 3898 (S3898) has added new language based on the 2006 passage of the US’s federal-level UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) to exclude companies which not present the main requirements. Therefore, the new poker bill introduced by the State Sen. John Bonacic may prohibit PokerStars’s operating projects in New York.

The new language, targeting bad actors, could lead to a dismissal of PokerStar’s proposal as it states any company would be unsuitable in the following cases:

(f) Whether the applicant:

(i) has at any time, either directly, or through another person whom it owned, in whole or in significant part, or controlled:

(A) knowingly and willfully accepted or made available wagers on interactive gaming (including poker) from persons located in the United States after December thirty-first, two thousand six, unless such wager were affirmatively authorized by law of the United States or of each state in which persons making such wagers were located; or

(B) knowingly facilitated or otherwise provided services with respect to interactive gaming (including poker) involving persons located in the United States for a person described in clause (A) of this subparagraph and acted with knowledge of the fact that such wagers or interactive gaming involved persons located in the United States; or

(ii) has purchased or acquired, directly or indirectly, in whole or in significant part, a person described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph or will use that person or a covered asset in connection with interactive gaming licensed pursuant to this article.