A new bill has been introduced to legalize interactive casino gambling in the state of New York. This bill comes to the New York Assembly following a previous proposal from the State Senate. Bill A09436 would legalize wagers made by virtual or electronic means through a licensed gaming facility.
Should the bill make it into law, casino operators will be able to use two mobile interactive gaming platforms for their games. This is, of course, provided that the brand has been cleared and licensed by the New York State İGaming Commission.
To gain a license, iGaming brands will have to pay a one-time fee of $2m (approx. £1.519m) while independent contractors will have to pay $10m (approx. £7.596m). Operators will then have to pay a tax rate of 25% on their gaming gross gaming revenue. This tax will be paid to the state lottery fund to be used for education aid and other purposes.
Following the successful launch of the state’s online sports betting market at the start of the year, it is unsurprising that we see a new bill put in front of the New York Assembly so soon. Just as we have seen states roll out sports betting over the past few years, so might we begin to see the same with online iGaming bills.
The profile of iGaming is on the up across the USA, and many state governments are considering bills such as A09436. Affiliates in the American iGaming markets should watch for opportunities they can leverage.