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New York lawmakers have shelved another push to legalize online casinos, extending a fight that has now spanned five straight legislative sessions.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo confirmed in May that he would not bring his bill, S2614, to the floor before the session ended June 4, saying Gov. Kathy Hochul was unlikely to sign it even if it passed both chambers.
Addabbo steps back without a floor fight
Addabbo, a Queens Democrat who has served in the Senate since 2008 and chairs its Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, was a driving force behind New York’s 2021 legalization of sports betting. He has spent the past several years trying to replicate that success for real-money online casino gaming, or iGaming.
This year, he decided the fight wasn’t worth having without executive backing.
“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,” Addabbo said in a May interview.
A Hochul spokesperson said that the governor “will review any legislation that passes” both chambers — stopping short of any commitment, according to Yogonet news.
Five years running — but momentum is building
This marks the fifth consecutive session in which an online casino bill has stalled in Albany, with similar measures introduced every year since 2022.
But 2026 came with a notable shift: on Dec. 5, 2025, Hochul signed a separate Addabbo bill, S.5935A, banning unregulated “dual-currency” sweepstakes casinos statewide. Addabbo called that law “a necessary step toward responsible modernization of New York’s online gaming landscape” and said it left the state “better positioned to hold serious discussions” about legalizing iGaming.
New York also wrapped up its long-delayed downstate casino licensing process in late 2025, removing another obstacle Addabbo had cited in past years. Even so, neither development was enough to move S2614 across the finish line this session.
Inside the stalled NY online casino bill
The bill would have created a real-money New York online casino market — including slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, live dealer games and online poker — regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission.
Eligible applicants included tribal operators, racinos, commercial casinos and existing mobile sports betting companies. Live dealer studios would have been required to operate within New York, and the bill included age verification, deposit limits and self-exclusion tools aimed at problem gambling.
What neighboring online casino states are earning
New York already runs the country’s largest legal sports betting market, taxed at 51%, but iGaming remains a separate and unresolved fight. Industry analysts estimate a regulated online casino market could generate roughly $2.5 billion in annual gross gaming revenue.
Eight states have already legalized online casino gaming, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, each posting strong results. New Yorkers who want to play legally must currently cross state lines.
Looking ahead to next legislative session in 2027
Lawmakers cannot revisit online casino legalization until the next session begins in 2027.
Hochul has not publicly detailed her objections to S2614 or said what changes might win her support. Given his long history with the issue, Addabbo is widely expected to reintroduce similar legislation next year. Until then, New York’s online casino debate remains in wait-and-see mode.
