New Yorkers: Let Us Play Online Too!

If New Jersey can, we should be able to also. That's the sentiment blowing up on social networks. The posts are from New Yorkers who want online poker legal, in a sentiment blasted around Facebook and Twitter is in direct response to NJ residents being legally allowed to gamble online.

Publicity Campaign Embraced

Launched by Let NY Play, the sentiment was first posted from the Las Vegas headquarters of MGM Resorts International, and subsequently taken up by scores of New Yorkers.

Racking up nearly $10 billion in global revenue but still lacking a casino in New York, MGM is not among the companies competing for the four casino licenses the state is about to issue. However MGM has been actively lobbying in the New York state capital of Albany for legislation introduced this year proposing to legalize online poker. Proposal sponsor NY Senator John J. Bonacic (Rep.) says online poker will bring additional revenue to the state.

Bonacic however has already warned MGM representatives that any measures would take some time for approval, with initial returns limited by initial activity and tax revenues.

All the while, gambling in New York continues unregulated, and thus not bringing in revenues for the state government. MGM research estimated that New York residents wager up to $110 million in illegal poker games online.

Research: New York State Losing Money

An analysis commissioned by MGM estimated that New York state stands to gain an addition $100 to $130 million in taxes and licensing can be informed by the New Jersey real life example: overly ambitious figures were generated by New Jersey officials in selling regulated online gambling to the public. However, despite being lower than expected, NJ online revenue has monthly averaged a good $10 million, no small gains, with a growth trend to boot.

With almost Facebook 5000 likes and 347 twitter followers, there are clearly plenty of players in New York ready to join in that state's start-up.