New York's Online Poker Bill is Now Being Moved to Senate

New York has come closer to a potential introduction for a legalised online poker after a bill that could regulate gambling poker activates has advanced to the Senate.

The US state’s Senate Finance Committee recently passed bill S3898 with a vote of 27 to 9.

This decision follows the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee who has also approved the bill with an unanimous vote of 11 to 0.

Although the bill has been approved, by vote, it still has some way to go before it comes into law. Last year it advanced to the local Senate but failed to gain support from the Assembly and was therefore eventually dropped.

The most recent version of the bill include proposals of classifying certain types of poker games, such as, Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hold’em, as they make us of skills which make them legal in the state.

The S3898 would be granting regulatory licensing together with scrutiny powers to the New York State Gaming Commission, meanwhile operators wishing to operate in the state are likely to face a 15% tax on the gross gaming revenue and also a licence fee of $10 million (€9.2 million).

If the bill is approved then a maximum of 10 companies could offer online poker in New York.

In addition, the bill would allow for intestate gambling compacts with the other US states who have legalised online poker, this will allow combined player pools.

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