New York Senate approves online poker bill

Bill S. 5302 aims to license and regulate internet poker in the state and passed the Senate with a 53-5 vote.

US.- New York Senate approved with a 53-5 vote bill S. 5302, which seeks to license and regulate internet poker in the state. The state legislative session ends on Thursday, June 16, so the bill has to be quickly enacted into law.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker advocacy group announced the approval of the new legislation and hoped the enactment of the bill would become a priority for the Assembly due to tomorrow’s deadline.

“Today marks a major achievement for internet poker regulation, but to be complete this bill must get to Governor Cuomo’s desk for signature. Thousands of PPA members in New York have contacted their state lawmakers and the state Senate responding by passing a bill that would finally provide consumers with a safe and regulated place to play poker online,” said John Pappas, executive director of the PPA.

“With the state legislative session coming to an end this week, now is time for the Assembly to make iPoker regulation a priority. The consumer case for Internet poker regulation is clear, plus it will raise millions in new revenue for the state without raising taxes. There is no other proposal before the legislature that can do this. Not acting on it would essentially amount to the legislature turning their back on consumer protections and new revenue without raising taxes,” Pappas added.