Home / Poker News September 2015 / Operators Showing Great Interest in Online Poker's Expansion to New York
Operators Showing Great Interest in Online Poker's Expansion to New York
Posted by: James Carter. - Fri, 2015-09-11 16:40
The idea of legal online poker in the Empire State is not exactly a new one as the area, with its huge concentration of population, represents a natural draw for any such activity. It wasn't until last Wednesday though that the first ever hearing regarding online poker took place in the state and by the looks of it, operators did indeed express interest. A total of seven witnesses were heard, together with three New York Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering members and they all spoke in favor of taking the game to New York. One of the above said Committee members was John Bonacic, who has introduced a poker-only bill.
The only nominal opposition to the idea of
legal online poker in New York came from the representative of the racinos of the State, James Featherstonhaugh, who preached caution and who said no online gaming moves should be made until three more racinos will have been completed and opened in upstate New York.
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According to Featherstonhaugh, there were other factors which warranted caution in regards to the expansion of online poker, like the uncertainty surrounding the federal-level future of the activity. The bottom line is that Featherstonhaugh didn't actually oppose the idea, he just advocated the slow and cautious approach.
MGM Resorts International's John McManus took a much more favorable position, comparing online poker to the world of online retail, and painting it as an inevitable innovation brick and mortar casinos needed to embrace sooner rather than later. According to Caesars Entertainment's David Satz, the threat of federal prohibition was a reason for states to act faster rather than delay the move under the guise of caution.
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