The booming online poker market is estimated to be worth nearly $90 billion globally. However, New York still hasn’t granted a state license for a single online poker site. This is despite the fact that neighboring states, like New Jersey, were among the first to legalize online poker and have reaped the rewards.
It’s also not for the lack of interest from local legislators. Over the last few years, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo has consistently introduced bills that would finally legalize online poker. In 2023, he even attempted to pass another bill that would see mobile users able to bet on poker in New York. More recently, the senator saw his 2025 bill, SB2614, referred to the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering. Currently, though, the committee has yet to deliberate on this bill.
Nevertheless, some critics are still uncertain if this new bill offers any updated regulations that will sway decision-makers. Instead, the key to finally seeing online poker legalization this time around may lie within the industry itself. Specifically, there’s the heightened adoption of cryptocurrencies within the iGaming sector, which includes online poker. Worldwide, crypto iGaming already has a market size close to $250 million, and online poker has been known as an early adopter of these tokens since 2013.
The Current State Of Online And Crypto Poker in New York
To date, New York is known for having one of the most vibrant poker communities in the country. This extends to legal live poker in casinos and cardrooms and the online sphere. Regarding the latter, though, since there are no state-regulated providers, players interested in online poker in New York have to rely on reputable international platforms. Currently, the country’s premier online poker site, America’s Cardroom, is considered the best option for New Yorkers.
Internationally licensed and backed with security features and secure banking methods, the site has a long-standing reputation for innovation. One of the most notable ways it continues to exhibit this is via its use of cryptocurrencies. In 2019, its VENOM tournament even earned the Guinness World Record for the largest cryptocurrency-winning jackpot worth over $1 million in an online poker tournament.
Today, the site accepts more than 60 digital tokens for fast and safe deposits and withdrawals. New Yorkers can thus choose to play with popular cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT, and more.
Why Crypto Can Help Push For Industry Legalization In The State
With the above landscape in mind, it’s clear that using cryptocurrencies for online poker in the Big Apple is nothing new. So, just how can it turn the tide in favor of legalization in 2025? By addressing some of the most pressing current considerations in the state’s online poker scene.
Protective Transparency
A concern that both lawmakers and players share regarding online poker as a whole is cybersecurity. As is the nature of the game, players are required to finance their accounts and supply sensitive personal information. Among sophisticated hackers, exploiting this data can be incredibly lucrative. A Kount report even reveals that up to 21% of gamers have been hacked, with some reporting stolen funds. Unfortunately, overall cybercrime rates are expected to rise this year, resulting in losses of up to $10.5 trillion.
Thankfully, cryptocurrency is particularly resilient against exploitation. This is because it is a decentralized currency that runs on the blockchain. As explained in Jennifer Carlson’s past article, each transaction on the blockchain is immediately verified and encrypted in a digital ledger. Consequently, this creates a comprehensive transaction history that is nearly impossible to tamper with. For online poker players, this means that their funds are not at risk of being stalled, rerouted, or manipulated. Regulators can also use this as another security measure to protect players amid concerns about more financial hacks in 2025.
Community Interest
Although the aforementioned committee does have the final say on online poker legislation, public sentiment carries a lot of weight. After all, committee members are assigned and expected to represent their constituents. Fittingly, a growing population of New Yorkers is showing a preference for crypto.
This is in light of growing concerns around fiat currencies, including the instability of the dollar. In response to this, more New Yorkers are veering toward crypto, which is not controlled by middlemen or financial monopolies. According to a 2024 study from the leading cryptocurrency news site Coinwire, New York’s crypto acceptance is now the highest worldwide. These results were based on city-wide assessments of crypto ownership, the frequency of crypto events, and the number of crypto-related jobs. As of late last year alone, there are about 130 cryptocurrency firms around the state. With this in mind, the integration of these tokens in online poker may further endear it to the public, which is something that lawmakers have to take into consideration.
Potential For Higher State Revenue
At the end of the day, legislators are often convinced to pass more sensitive bills based on whether they can offer more pros than cons. Among the iGaming industry, successful proponents have leveraged the monetary gains a state stands to earn from legalization. Such is the case in the US online sports betting industry. Though it remains polarizing for many, it has seen widespread legalizations largely thanks to the revenue it brings.
In 2023, New York’s sports betting revenue exceeded $1.6 billion despite only being legalized the year prior. Later, in 2024, the leading online sportsbook FanDuel cemented its status as a favored site for New Yorkers, having transacted more than $900 million in bets over a single month. This bodes well for the state, given that related tax revenues are nearly at $1 billion.
Online poker can potentially bring in the same money for the state, especially with crypto adoption. A Gambling Insider report reveals that upwards of 62% of US gamers are interested in using crypto. This can easily turn into financial success for a state where the use of such currencies is legalized, as it can attract more players from within and outside the region. As it is, Addabbo’s newest bill includes a hefty 30.5% tax rate on online poker operators, which can be used to fund state projects.
