Summary:
- The decision hurts Senator Joseph Addabbo’s chances of passing Bill S8185.
- Governor Hochul did the same thing last year regarding iGaming and the budget.
- The bill now lacks the governor’s support, which means it’s a long shot for passage.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul seems to have a vendetta against online casino gaming. The governor has not included New York online casino gaming in her proposed budget for two years.
She decided in 2023 to exclude it from the 2024 budget and has done so again for 2025. This significantly harms the chances of Senator Joseph Addabbo’s Senate Bill S8185 from passing.
No Support Harms the Measure
Addabbo has been supportive of online casino gaming in the US for years. He sees the importance of the industry in New York as an additional way to bring in much-needed revenues. The senator has introduced legislation several times but failed to gain enough support to see the measure gain any ground.
This time around, Addabbo has continued to point out the need for support from the governor. The bill already faces a challenge in passage, and he will now need even more support since the measure has been left out of the new budget proposal.
The budget focuses on gaming in relation to horse racing but has no input on online casino services. The state is considering extending the tax rates and changing simulcasts for horse racing in 2025.
The proposal also gives off-track betting sites more flexibility when it comes to spending capital funds. Another measure from Addabbo that proposes fixed-odds racing at parimutuel sites is noticeably missing.
Focused on Land-Based Gaming
Perhaps the governor will not include online casino gaming until the matter of land-based casinos in downstate New York is handled. The governor is currently working on vetting companies for licensing to operate three casinos in the New York City area.
Negotiations to renew the state and Seneca Nation agreement are also ongoing. The deadline for the compact to be completed is March 31.
For now, Senator Addabbo will try to drum up enough support to see his measure move forward. Gambling experts feel that excluding iGaming will mean a long road ahead for the bill, and it may still be some time before the state even considers adding slots and table games via online services.
Addabbo’s bill proposes a 31.5% tax on gross gaming revenues from the new industry. This percentage is high compared to other states and could bring millions in revenues consistently.
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