Online poker observers report from New York that lawmakers are already gearing up to take another run at legalising online poker after two prior years of failure.
InfoPowa readers will recall that last year bills sponsored by Rep. Gary Pretlow and Sen. John Bonacic came close but did not ultimately succeed; in the Senate Bonacic’s S3898 passed 54 vs. 8 but failed to advance in the House, whilst in the House Pretlow’s A5250 made it through one committee, only to stall in the Codes Committee as Pretlow appeared to back-pedal on concerns of the impact on new land casinos in the state.
With the new year both bills are reportedly set for restarts in the House and Senate, probably sponsored by the same lawmakers.
Bonacic moved first, on January 3 getting his Senate bill back into the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee which approved it last year and hopefully will repeat the process this year.
Pretlow’s bill is already in the House Codes Committee, with most observers taking an optimistic view but cautioning that much depends on Pretlow’s commitment and support. Following his apparent row back last year, that is by no means certain, and some wheeling and dealing may have to take place.