AMOA-New York Kicks Off Grassroots Online Gaming Campaign

ALBANY, NY -- The Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York is kicking off its grassroots location-based gambling campaign by meeting with the state's political leadership. Last month, AMOA-NY officials met with state Sen. John Flanagan, who is also the New York Senate Majority Leader. Flannagan, a Republican, is one of the top three policymakers, behind Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In September, the trade association announced a campaign to legalize online gaming in bars, taverns, clubs and other hospitality venues in which AMOA-NY operators would be licensed, authorized providers. | SEE STORY

Flanagan has been a longtime advocate and supporter of AMOA-NY members as small business owners and entrepreneurs, said AMOA-NY president Ken Goldberg, Emerson Amusements (Woodside). During the association's recent meeting with the senator, Goldberg made the case for partnering with independent service organizations like amusement operators.

"There are vast differences in the way our operators and vendors transact business and navigate bottom-line costs, when compared to the perspective of a government employee," Goldberg said. "Similar to what operators have achieved in Illinois, this should be a healthy business in which there is income opportunity for many, job creation and a reasonable revenue projection for government."

Illinois is among the states that have successfully implemented operator-run video gambling programs, along with Montana, Louisiana, South Dakota and West Virginia. In September in Illinois, more than $941 million was wagered on 21,905 video gaming terminals with $866 million paid out in winnings, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. About $23 million went into state and local tax coffers that month.

NEW YORK MOMENT: Pictured, from left, are AMOA government affairs agent William Schnell; Mitch DeCarlo, Jami Amusements (Bronx); AMOA-NY vice-president Joe Bossolina, McGee Amusements (Ridgefield, NJ); Sen. John Flanagan (R-Smithtown), NY Senate Majority Leader; AMOA-NY secretary Allen Weisberg, Apple Industries (Greenvale, NY); State Sen. Tom Croci (R-East Islip); and AMOA-NY president Ken Goldberg, Emerson Amusements (Woodside).