A New York senate committee has taken the legalization and regulation of online poker up a rung, leading to applause by poker proponents in the United States. The voice of 1.2 million poker fans, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), congratulated the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering in New York for passing through legislation which has the potential to see a legalized and regulated internet poker regime in the Empire State. The PPA has over 40,000 active members in New York alone, and the news was greeted with satisfaction by members yesterday.
The Executive Director of the PPA, John Pappas issued a statement following the passing through of the legislation, thanking the chairman of the Senate Committee, John Bonacic and committee members for acting so quickly.
“If passed into law, the bill would provide New Yorkers who play poker online with a safe and regulated environment, while bringing in revenue for the state,” predicted Pappas.
He also encouraged the Finance Committee to move quickly to usher the legislation through the Senate, and urged the Assembly to move forward with its own legislation.
Pappas addressed the suggestion by some that New York first wait for the planned new brick and mortar casinos to become fully operational before introducing online poker legislation, so that there would be no unnecessary competition for the fledgling casinos.
Pappas said that the PPA disagreed with this argument and said that it would be a mistake for the state to wait for its brick-and-mortar casinos to be operational before taking poker online.
“Moving internet poker legislation now would establish an existing customer base of poker players for brick-and-mortar casinos when they open their doors for business,” said the executive director. He pointed out the fact that New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware already have a safe and regulated online market which is accountable to players, law enforcement and regulators, and said that it was now the turn of New York to have that as well.
Efforts continue to be made by opponents of brick-and-mortar casinos in New York. A state judge recently rejected a challenge by a group claiming that the casino under construction in the Finger Lakes would negatively impact the environment.
The Poker Players Alliance is the leading nationwide advocacy group dedicated to the rights of poker players in the United States. It strives to bring the game of poker to all to wish to play legally and safely, working with key lawmakers to push for changes to the current legal system on a state-by-state and federal level.
