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Legalized online poker in the state of New York has taken a giant step forward with the state Senate approving bill 53 at 7:30 pm Tuesday.
That measure will permit the state's 11 racetrack casinos to apply for 11 licenses to hold online poker games.
If approved by the state Assembly, New York would become just the fourth state in the country to legalize online poker gambling, according to Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, chair of the Senate's racing, gaming and wagering committee.
The 10-year licenses to run online poker gambling games would cost casinos $10 million.
The bill gets around current prohibitions designed to prevent games of chance by labeling the online poker games as those of skill.
"Creating a safe, regulated option for online poker players in New York would generate millions in new tax revenue that could be used for education and other critical investments," said MGM General Counsel John McManus. The company does not yet operate gambling venues in the Empire State but recently acquired a majority interest in the Borgata, which operates the nation's largest US state legal online poker site from Atlantic City, New Jersey. "We applaud the Senate for passing this sensible legislation that will help protect New Yorkers who have for years played online poker on unprotected, off-shore poker websites that today operate with no regulation, fraud controls, or age restrictions."
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
