Online poker legalisation supporters remained on tenterhooks late Thursday, waiting hopefully for news that somehow New York Assembly lawmakers had managed to vote for regulated and licensed online poker, emulating their opposite numbers in the Senate earlier this week (see previous reports).
In the meantime, observers pointed out that the last chance saloon could be the traditional Big Ugly – politic-speak for an end of session omnibus bill that packs in all sorts of unfinished business in the hope of a last-gasp and usually late evening vote for the entire package.
Some insiders opined that the online poker legalisation bill, given its strong showing in the state Senate, would be a reasonable candidate for inclusion.
The Assembly is expected to run into the early hours Friday as members negotiate which issues should be allowed into this session’s Big Ugly.
One observer who is confident that online poker will be included is John Pappas of the Poker Players Alliance, who tweeted:
“I think iPoker and DFS will certainly be part of that discussion.”
“I think this week’s [online poker vote in the state Senate] vote certainly opened up a lot of eyes on the Assembly side, and opened the door for anything to happen between now and when everything is actually done this week.”