A New York State Senate bill that would ban all forms of sweeps-based online gambling, including online poker, has passed its first committee bill on a unanimous vote. Senate Bill 5935 (S5935) was approved on a 6-0 tally by the Senate's Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee on Wednesday. A seventh committee member also voted 'aye' but 'with reservation', thus continuing the bill's unanimous approval.
S5935, which has long-time online gambling and online poker supporter Sen. Joseph Addabbo as its primary sponsor, now returns to the full State Senate floor for further consideration and a possible vote.
The New York Assembly's companion measure, Assembly Bill 6745 (A6745), has yet to receive a similar vote. That bill is sponsored by State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner. Both bills were introduced in early March.
New York joins anti-sweeps legislative parade
The twin bills' introduction and S5935's early passage cement New York among a growing list of US states taking legislative or prosecutorial steps to combat the growing presence of the sweepstakes-based online gambling sites. These sites employ a dual-currency system of play-money and prize-exchangable 'sweeps' coins to operate, in an attempt to skirt around the consideration, meaning something of value, aspect of the traditional three-pronged definition of gambling as found throughout the US for centuries.
