Lentol Legislation goes all in for poker parlors

"Poker is the game that most people want to play now. New Yorkers watch it on TV, they play poker on their computers and many would like to go out for a night and play it in a nice setting," said Lentol, D-Brooklyn. "If you turn on any sports channel, what do they show when real sports aren't on? Texas Hold 'em."

As New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. sinks further into bankruptcy, contemplating mass layoffs and closing betting parlors, Lentol said it is time to update the state's gaming laws to better reflect current preferences, and OTB might just be saved in the process by placing OTB Internet-access terminals in poker parlors.

Lentol said not cashing in on this trend represents a missed opportunity. Poker enthusiasts are playing in online tournaments or going to Atlantic City, and instead of the dollars going elsewhere, New York could be getting a cut of the take.

"Most folks recognize this is a popular form of gaming, and we may have already missed the boat. We can not let it go further out to sea," said Lentol.


The assemblyman said poker parlors already exist in the state in the form of social clubs, which are legal private venues where members can play card games as long as the house does not turn a profit. Licensing entrepreneurs who would like to turn the game into a profession and ensure parlors operate within a regulated framework would make sure that "the underworld would be out of it," Lentol said.

Details of the bill A.10815/no same as, such as if the parlors would be publicly or privately owned, or if the parlor operators would be able to obtain liquor licenses, still have to be worked out, he said.

New York Council for Problem Gambling Executive Director James Maney said legalizing poker parlors would increase the number of people playing poker, which may contribute to a rise in rates of gambling addiction.

"If they legalized marijuana, would more people smoke marijuana if you could buy it in the store? If they lowered the drinking age to 18 would more kids drink? Absolutely, Maney said. "Of course more people are going to do it once it's legal."

He said as the state considers expanding legal gambling by increasing the availability of video lottery terminals, decreasing restrictions on the Lottery or licensing poker parlors, it is important to countervail the action with funding for gambling addiction services. "We don't have the infrastructure to deal with gambling problems as it is," Maney said.

Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman J. Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, said he is supportive of the pending legislation. Pretlow admitted to occasionally playing poker, but he stressed he doesn't play illegally for money on the Internet, just with friends.

Pretlow said with any expansion of legalized gambling, safeguards need to be in place to prevent underage gambling, and addiction prevention programs should be funded.

He said the decriminalization would raise revenue for the state through the collection of income taxes from parlor proprietors.

Lentol's legislation would require amending the state Constitution, a practice requiring approval by two Legislatures and voters through a ballot referendum.