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New York players should not expect legal online casino apps anytime soon, based on new comments from Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, who said iGaming legalization is “perpetually five years out.”
Woerner, who chairs the New York State Assembly’s committee on racing and gaming, made the remark during The Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga. Her comments add to the view that New York is unlikely to be among the next states to legalize online casino gaming.
Woerner’s comments cool near-term expectations in New York
According to Gambling Insider, Woerner told conference attendees that online casino legalization remains a long-range issue rather than an active near-term policy push.
She also pointed to broader economic concerns, saying, “We’re seeing a stagnation of disposable income in the economy generally.” Woerner added that if consumers spend more on gambling, that can mean less spending on dining, movies, and local shopping.
For New York, that matters because Woerner is one of the Legislature’s most visible voices on gaming policy. While her remarks do not rule out future action, they suggest any serious path for iGaming in the state is still distant.
Why iGaming may expand more slowly than sports betting
The report argues that online casino expansion across the US is likely to continue at a much slower pace than sports betting did.
One reason is that iGaming has not had the same public and political push that helped sportsbooks spread after the 2018 Supreme Court decision opened the door to state-regulated sports betting. The article also notes that concerns around underage access and aggressive gambling advertising have affected attitudes toward expanded gambling products.
Only seven states currently have legalized iGaming, or eight if Nevada is included for online poker, according to the report. At the Saratoga conference, the most common audience prediction among more than 200 attendees was that 10 to 20 states would offer iGaming within the next five years.
What New York readers should watch next
For now, the main takeaway is that no near-term New York online casino breakthrough appears to be in sight.
The report suggests future movement is more likely to come first in places such as Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, or the District of Columbia. In New York, readers should watch for whether any iGaming legislation is introduced and whether top lawmakers begin signaling a shorter timeline than the one Woerner described.
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Source: As reported by Steve Bittenbender.
