The New York Senate passed a bill March 11 which will begin to address the issues of internet gambling in that state. Sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin Jr., chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, the first bill to pass out of the Senate is SB4174. It requires foreign corporations providing gambling or wagering over the internet to file for authorization to do business in NY with the Secretary of State. Heather Bennett, the committee counsel, was quick to point out that this does not mean that NY is recognizing internet gambling as legal in the state. The bill's intent is instead a consumer protection bill which allows residents of the state to reach such corportions for service of process if there are problems. The bill was first introduced in '97 along with a bill which would require bonding. Neither was passed into law that year.
A second bill being considered is SB2636. which prohibits the dissemination of gambling access to minors. Bennett told IGN that this bill was really more of a statement of concern about access by minors. She noted that a similar NY bill related to pornography had made its way to the Supreme Court and been thrown out as a violation of free speech.
A third bill relates strictly to the offering of parimutuel wagering products over the internet. SB4186 requires providers of internet gambling or wagering to post a bond with the state racing and wagering board. Again, the intent is consumer protection.
IGN will continue to follow these bills and their progress as they wind there way along the legislative path.