NY State "Thrilled" It Can Start To Offer Online Gambling

Gamblers on the first day the Queens "racino," the Resorts World casino, opened (Nicole Woszczyna/Gothamist)

Forget the opening of the new "racino" in Queens: New York State gamblers will soon be able to lose money through the Internet! The NY Times reports that as part of a Friday news dump, "The Justice Department has reversed its long-held opposition to many forms of Internet gambling, removing a big legal obstacle for states that want to sanction online gambling to help fix their budget deficits."

See, New York State and Illinois were curious whether they could offer online gaming, and sought clarity on the "Wire Act of 1961, which prohibits wagering over telecommunications systems that cross state or national borders"—specifically, whether the act "prevented those states from using the Internet to sell lottery tickets to adults within their own borders." The Justice Department decision has now "opened the door for states to allow Internet poker and other forms of online betting that do not involve sports. Many states are interested in online gambling as a way to raise tax revenue."

New York Lottery director Gordon Medenica told the Times, "We’ve been waiting for a couple years. We’re thrilled that this ruling has now come down and confirmed that our legal analysis was correct all along," and that besides adding two more jackpot games, the NY Lottery will "allow New York residents to buy single-draw tickets online for the first time."

Plus, as Massachusetts' state treasurer points out, "This will put additional pressure on Congress and others to allow online poker and other Internet gambling," an issue Native American tribes are weighing in on, too. Merry Christmas, y'all,

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 25, 2011 1:30 PM

Comments [rss]

Taruhan Bola

lol. even older one had time to play g\online gambling...

losernyc

lol @ libs arguing we should legalize weed to create tax revenue etc but not gambling. legalize them both so rich and poor can party and govt gets $$$$$$$$

losernyc

lol @ libs arguing we should legalize weed to create tax revenue but not gambling. legalize them both and let rich and poor party for govt $$$$$$$$$

Andrew Williams

Beyond selling lottery tickets online, this ruling was meant to clear the way for online poker (or iPoker) and not online casinos. It's in the government's best interest to be involved in contests where they are able to provide a safe and regulated environment and be allowed to take a "commission" and tax players winnings and NOT in the gov's best interest to serve as "the house" at games of pure chance such as slots or blackjack where they hold a pure edge and siphon off their citizens hard earned income. In online poker (or lotteries for that matter) for every loser, there is a winner that is not "the house". Anyone that has watched WSOP coverage and has stepped inside a poker room will note that poker is not aimed at the states poorest and most economically at-risk citizens. It is a middle to upper-class game of skill played by thoughtful white collar AND blue collar workers alike. There is a STRONG and VOCAL base of displaced poker players that welcome New York state's attempts to provide a safe and regulated venue for us to exercise our right to play poker.

seattlesnow

There is better ways than this!

Mr Mel

Legalized gambling is nothing more than a tax on the poor. Chasing this dream gives false hope to the people that can least afford it. If anyone doesn't believe a picture is worth a thousand words, just look at the one in this report.

FutureMan

If anyone doesn't believe that liberal do-gooders can also be flaming racists, just look at this comment.

Mr Mel

If indeed, my remarks make me a racist in your eyes so be it, but the flaming part?

BottomlessChips

Since when is it the responsibility of government to worry about things that could provide false hope?

Why shouldn't adults be able to decide on this matter for themselves?

Because some people will abuse gambling, we should prohibit it?

AaronRed99

It's an idiot tax. And we should all be thrilled for a new idiot tax.

fivefootmohawk

Not when the money these poor chumps are putting into the slot machines is coming from our taxes by way of cash assistance, food stamps and ect, ect.

CurmudgeonNYC

Like the head eating the tail.

AaronRed99

Don't kid yourself. There are plenty of idiots in the 1% that will pay this entirely avoidable tax.

shocktheday

Given casinos comp high rollers with free rooms, to shelf drinks, and private dining, I highly doubt rich a-holes will gamble online; most of the fun in gambling is being treated like a rich a-hole.

BottomlessChips

Agreed. The biggest chunk of Vegas gambling revenue comes from baccarat. I'm not sure about AC's or CT's for a east coast comparison, but I'd imagine high-stakes gambling is a bulk of their revenue.

Poor, elderly grandmas aren't playing baccarat. It's the rich people. So the "1%" are not avoiding helping grow the tax bases. This canard of rich people paying -412312.5% on taxes will never die, though.

the_uptowner

No one is forced to gamble, unlike payIng taxes.

Mr Mel

Of course they're not forced but they are enticed. Have you ever seen a working guy or woman standing outside a lottery vendor scraping away at a one of a stack of scratch off cards? I call it a tax, you may call it what you wish, it doesn't make it any less shameful.

Dwayne Hoover

Thankfully we don't legislate against stupidity too often, so if Joe Poor want's to throw his savings into the NY lottery, awesome....at least it's being recycled back into the education budget for the state.