New York online casino bill unlikely to advance this session, Sen. Addabbo says

A proposal to legalize online casino gaming in New York is unlikely to advance before the state legislative session ends on June 4, with state Sen. Joseph Addabbo indicating that the bill is not expected to receive a committee hearing or a floor vote in either chamber.

Addabbo, who chairs the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, said the issue was not likely to move this session because legislative approval would not be enough without support from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"We could pass it in the Senate, we could pass it in the Assembly and then the governor would probably not sign it. So I'm not going to waste anyone's time here," Addabbo told Gambling.com.

Any bill dealing with casino gaming, sports betting, or related gambling matters must be approved by the full Senate and Assembly before being sent to Hochul, a Democrat, for consideration.

In an email to Gambling.com on Monday, May 11, Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper said the governor "will review any legislation that passes" both legislative chambers.

Addabbo’s remarks came during a video interview on Gambling.com’s "The Edge," where he discussed several gambling policy issues, including online casino gaming, prediction markets, taxes on sports betting operators, and prop bets.

On iGaming, Addabbo said the question was not whether New York would eventually authorize online casino gaming, but when. He said he would continue to press the issue each year, while adding that broader support would be needed and that the current barrier was the governor’s position.

Addabbo also argued that prediction markets should be regulated rather than banned. He said regulation would allow New York to work with entities through a legal framework, generate benefits for the state, and give residents access to a safer product instead of leaving activity outside regulated channels.

"Every year that goes by that we don't regulate prediction markets gives me more ammunition and more data and more justification to regulate it in New York," he said.

On prop bets, Addabbo said he personally opposed a ban, noting that nearby states already allow such wagers. In his view, a ban would give New Yorkers another reason to place bets outside their home state or travel elsewhere to do so.