New York lawmakers are once again considering legislation that would legalize online poker and are also looking at a bill that would expand live poker beyond land-based casinos.
Assembly Bill 1380, sponsored by Democratic State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, would allow "certain interactive poker games (to) be considered games of skill rather than games of luck," a crucial distinction that would clear the way for New York entering the online poker market.
Meanwhile, fellow Democrat David Weprin's AB 1580 would allow "any person who holds a license to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises to allow players to engage in certain recreational contests," including contests involving poker.