State Senator Joseph Addabbo recently unveiled the results of a survey shedding light on his constituents’ views regarding the potential legalization of online casinos in New York.
The survey is based on the responses from 523 constituents in the 15th Senate District, which included questions about iGaming. It revealed that 44% of participants support the industry, while 33% oppose it. Interestingly, 23% of respondents remained undecided on the matter.
They were posed with this question regarding online casino legalization: “With many New York residents participating in illegal, unregulated, and unsafe gaming operations over the Internet, I introduced legislation allowing licensed interactive gaming operators to offer online casino games to the public. Steps to protect consumers, combat compulsive gaming, and prevent minors from accessing online gaming sites are included. iGaming would create an estimated $1 billion in additional revenue annually and create jobs.
Do you support or oppose iGaming?”
That question was among a list that included queries on topics like prostitution, death with dignity, and Queenslink, a proposed public transportation project.
Addabbo Pushing to Expand iGaming Licenses in New York
Senator Addabbo has been unwavering in his pursuit of legalizing online casinos in New York. He even introduced bill S9226, which would allow up to 10 online poker operators to operate in New York, each license would carry a $10 million fee and remain valid for 10 years, subject to a 15% tax rate. The New York State Gaming Commission would oversee and regulate the online poker market.
Addabbo’s measure is currently in the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. During the recent legislative session, hopes were high that this would be the breakthrough moment. However, despite his tireless efforts, success remains elusive.
Hotel and Gaming Trading Council Not Backing iGaming Efforts
Some think iGaming could provide a nice, new revenue stream in The Empire State, but there is a stumbling block. The New York Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC), representing over 5,000 gaming workers, is vehemently pushing back.
According to the union, legalizing iGaming would not create jobs; instead, it would devastate the existing land-based casino ecosystem. Adding to the drama, more than 700 employees from Resorts World New York City penned a letter to Addabbo, labeling his iGaming legalization efforts as “appalling” and warning that such legislation would harm workers like them.
The twist? Resorts World NYC sits just outside Addabbo’s district, and many of its employees hope for one of the coveted downstate licenses to transform the racino into a full-fledged casino.
Addabbo Still Has Hope for iGaming in New York State
Despite the setback, Addabbo remains optimistic. He views this as a conversation starter, not a dead end. While the recent iGaming poll results may have been underwhelming, he’s unlikely to abandon his mission to bring online casinos to the Empire State.
So, the poll results are not in his favor, and there’s a big push against the idea from the HTC, but the war isn’t over yet. Typically, just like at any top-rated sportsbook, money talks in these situations, and we’ll keep our eye on where the debate is headed next.
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