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ONLINE GAMING - In January this year, Sen. Joseph Addabbo once again introduced his iGaming bill, SB2614, in the New York Senate. According to sbcamericas.com, the bill aims to authorize or legalize online casinos and lottery games in the Big Apple, marking the senator’s recent efforts to advance New York’s online gaming industry. Under the proposed regulation, only select entities, including casinos, Indian tribes, online sports betting operators, and video lottery terminal facilities, will be eligible for iGaming licenses.
Other key provisions include limiting online gaming operations to those with physical gaming licenses and enacting a 30.5% tax rate on gross gaming revenues. The bill likewise includes a time-out period of three years for any unregulated casino-operating entities, which is part of Addabbo’s plan to ban sweepstakes casinos in New York. This bill marks a significant move in iGaming regulation in New York State. However, it also poses questions on how progress on this front can impact poker legislation in other states that house Native American-owned casinos, particularly California. In this article, we look at the popularity of online poker and how Addabbo’s iGaming bill may impact the Golden State:
The popularity of online poker
According to World Poker Tour data, 60 million people in the United States play online poker. This popularity is due in no small part to notable poker influencers like Chris Moneymaker. Moneymaker’s historic run in the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event – where he became the first champion to qualify through online poker – sparked the early 2000s poker boom. He continues to be a major figure in iGaming to this day, recently partnering with americascardroom.eu, the country’s leading online poker platform. The poker legend is currently headlining his Moneymaker Tour with ACR Poker, drawing poker enthusiasts from across the US. Players like Evan Jarvis are also introducing poker to a wider audience through regular streaming on Twitch and participating in online tournaments like ACR Poker’s Team Online Championships, as reported by prnewswire.com.
With Addabbo’s recent bill aiming to further strengthen online gaming in New York, how will it affect poker legislation in California – a known hotbed of casino activity?
The bill’s potential impact on California’s poker legislation
In January, cbsnews.com reported that seven Native American tribes that own casinos filed a suit in Sacramento County against several California card rooms. The suit alleges that these gambling rooms located across the state illegally offer card games such as pai pow poker and blackjack, which affect the tribes’ gambling revenues. This comes after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 549 in September last year, a measure allowing California India tribes to sue card rooms to determine if they potentially infringe on tribal gaming rights.
Meanwhile, the card room industry claims the games are legal and have secured the attorney general’s approval. This dispute has since become an expensive political battle, with California’s cardroom industry spending over $3 million targeting four lawmakers who played crucial roles in SB 549’s passage.
Addabbo’s proposed iGaming bill could serve as a blueprint for California’s state regulations on poker. One of the key provisions of Addabbo’s bill, which focuses on licensing Indian tribes, may help encourage similar regulations in California that seek to authorize casino-owning Native American tribes, providing a more substantial provision that effectively protects tribal gaming rights. The New York senator’s bill also highlights the importance of creating clear, well-defined legislation with straightforward provisions. Should it eventually pass, Addabbo’s bill could start a domino effect, providing opportunities for further enhancing states like California’s existing gaming laws to avoid conflicts within the state’s gambling industry.
Uncertain future
However, the future of poker in the state of California is not yet set in stone, as it also depends on the result of the June 2026 gubernatorial elections. Several figures have announced their intentions to run for governor in California to replace the termed-out Gov. Newsom, with Katie Porter currently being the frontrunner, according to a recent article on citywatchla.com. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the Presidential race in November, is also reportedly planning to decide whether she will run for governor. The future of California’s poker legislation will be highly dependent on the policies and principles of whoever wins the race.
Current legal disputes in California’s gambling industry necessitate a comprehensive and clear review of the state’s existing gambling laws. New York Sen. If it passes, Addabbo’s iGaming bill can serve as a blueprint for California and other states to follow. For more local and state news, visit the citywatchla.com website.
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