A key figure in potentially passing New York online casino legislation is saying likely not this year.
In January, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner took over as chair of the NY Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee. Woerner said in a recent interview with City & State New York that online casino legislation will be looked at but she doubts 2025 will be the year it passes.
“I think in the Assembly we’ll be taking a look at it, but I would not think that we’re ready to take that step yet,” Woerner told City & State. “There’s a lot to look at. I know it’s out there and under consideration, and I’ll certainly take a hard look at it. We’ll see.”
Other NY gambling notes
Woerner said companies have not approached her about lowering the 51% sports betting tax.
She also expects sports betting handle to grow beyond the record $22.6 billion wagered in 2024.
Woerner believes there will be strong looks at “guardrails around problem gambling, with mobile gaming particularly.”
NY online casino legislation
Sen. Joe Addabbo is pushing for online casino legalization. He said regulation is about ensuring consumer safety.
“If we want to be serious about addiction, you need to regulate so we can monitor activity; you want to catch it before the addiction hits,” Addabbo told LSR last month. “If it’s in the shadows, we can’t really help them.”
Along with helping cut down on illegal gambling, Addabbo believes it can also help cut into the projected $6 billion budget deficit in the Empire State.
Working on sports betting
Addabbo agreed with Woerner that more can be done with responsible gambling.
He wants to increase funding for problem gambling from $6 million to 1% of gross sports betting revenue.
Addabbo, like Woerner, also wants to strengthen the state’s horse betting industry.
