Unfortunately for online poker fans, the New York State Assembly will not be passing a bill seeking to legalize online poker before the chamber adjourns on June 21, Wednesday.
According to the primary sponsor of legislation, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester), if the bill passes, New York, the fourth most populous state in the nation, would be the fourth state to offer poker online.
Named Assembly Bill 5250, it seeks to redefine Omaha and Texas Hold'em as games of skill as opposed to chance, an obvious distinction that would have allowed both card games to be played online.
However, Pretlow told proponents that they should not be too enthusiastic at this time as they go into the final week of legislative session, saying, "There was some opposition. We'll pick it up next year more than likely."
For now, only three states have legalized some types of online gambling, and the rather small populace of New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada haven't really let the game of poker fully realize its potential online.
On the other hand, New York is a whole new level, and if the bill passes, it can significantly shake up the online poker scene, with around 20 million residents that can possibly double the size of the American player pool. What's more, New York's online poker legalization would mean that other states will most likely follow suit, creating a legislation of their own that allows online poker gaming.
Source:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/n-y-assembly-democrats-fold-legalizing-online-poker-article-1.3258219
