New York’s latest attempt to legalize online casino gaming is over for 2026. This leaves online poker and other iGaming options off the table for now.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo’s bill, S2614, did not reach a final vote. The legislative session ended without one. He concluded Gov. Kathy Hochul would not support the online casino bill. As a result, any renewed push for legal online casino play in New York will have to wait until at least 2027.
Another New York iGaming push falls short
S2614 would have authorized a full real-money online casino market in New York. The proposal covered online slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, live dealer games, and online poker.
According to the source report, Hochul would not have signed the legislation. Addabbo abandoned the bill for that reason.
The bill’s collapse extends a familiar pattern in Albany. Similar iGaming measures have now been introduced in five consecutive legislative sessions without making it to the finish line.
That stands out. New York is already the largest legal sports betting market in the US, with mobile sports betting live since January 2022 and a 51% tax rate on sports betting revenue. Still, online casino legalization remains a separate fight.
The framework lawmakers left behind
The proposal called for the New York State Gaming Commission to oversee the market. Eligible applicants would have included commercial casinos, racinos, tribal operators, and existing mobile sports betting providers.
The bill also set out some major operating terms. Licensing fees were listed at roughly $150 million per operator, and any live dealer studios would have been required to operate within New York.
Responsible gambling measures were part of the package as well, including age verification, deposit limits, and self-exclusion tools.
What it means for New York players
Adults in New York were hoping for regulated online poker or online casino play. For them, nothing changes at the moment. Online casino gaming is still illegal in the state, and this year’s bill will not move forward.
The missed opportunity is notable. A legal New York online casino market could generate $2.5 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, according to industry analysts. Online casinos are already live in eight states nationally. This shows other jurisdictions have moved ahead. However, New York is still on the sidelines.
2027: The next chance for NY online casinos
For now, New York’s legal online gambling market remains centered on sports betting rather than casino games or poker. The earliest New York can revisit online casino legalization is 2027.
One question will shape that debate. Will a future online casino bill win broader support, especially from the governor’s office?
Until then, New York’s online poker and iGaming debate stays in wait-and-see mode.
