News sources concerned with gambling issues announced
over the weekend that a bill has been introduced into the New York State Senate
to push for the legalization of online poker. According to sources (Chris Grove
of the Online Poker Report @OPReport among the first to break the story) State Sen. John
Bonacic (R-42nd District) introduced a bill that would amend the state’s gaming
and racing regulations to allow for online poker games.
It’s about time! I’ve said this in other posts and I will
continue to say it – New York has the aura of a front-runner but rarely
deserves the title. As a life-long New Yorker, criticizing my state, I believe,
is one of my rights and as far as gambling is concerned, New York is easily
criticized.
Long the home of harness racing tracks, flats,
simulcasting, and pari-mutuel betting, New York lags behind more future
oriented states than most are aware of. New Yorkers sat back and watched
helplessly while New Jersey became the first state on the Eastern seaboard to
allow casino gambling. When Connecticut followed a few years later with one
then two enormous Native American casinos, New York was clearly on the
sidelines.
Lotteries notwithstanding, New York arrived very late at
the gambling party. At this time there are Indian casinos in upstate New York
and racinos scattered around the state. The Indian casinos offer a full array
of casino type games including poker rooms in many of them. The racinos are restricted
to electronic games so that slot machines rule the day with a small number of
roulette, craps, and baccarat tables available for those not too wary of
technology.
The racinos are located in or close to very populated
areas of New York – the Empire City casino in Yonkers, minutes from New York
City and Resorts World casino at Aqueduct Racetrack, a stone’s throw from JFK
airport. The full service Indian casinos are located in parts of the state that
are far from the large urban centers of New York and other states.
Last year the legislature and the public approved the
establishment of four privately owned full service casinos in upstate
semi-rural areas. Bids and proposals are being prepared and approvals are
slated for this coming autumn. The rationale for placing these first four
casinos away from any large urban area is the hope that their presence will
stimulate economic development in those areas. I don’t believe that will come
to pass. The driving distance to any of these new establishments will be at
least the same as a jaunt to a venue in New Jersey, Connecticut, or
Pennsylvania, a recent addition to the scene. Past experiences in other states
indicate that many of the construction employees and permanent workers at these
casinos will come from elsewhere rather than the immediate economically
challenged areas in which they are likely to be built.
Online poker, along with a loosening of these
short-sighted casino proposals, is a way to seriously impact the tax revenue
that New York so sorely needs. Morality
aside, and it should be put aside since many agree it is a non-issue for the
vast majority of players, the future health of government entities may depend
largely on revenue garnered from entertainment vehicles like gambling. What
better way to reach the entire state, and hopefully other states and countries
as well eventually, with a quality online poker product that not only delights
New Yorkers but attracts players from other states, than a knock-your-socks-off
online poker site or two?
I’m on board and keeping my fingers crossed.
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