The New York Casino Jobs Bill for Former Offenders is Currently Before Governor Hochul.

The legislation arrives at Hochul's office.

Should new legislation be approved by Governor Kathy Hochul, gamblers who visit New York casinos in the future could have their dice rolled by individuals who have previously been convicted of drug trafficking or murder.

Now that it has been presented to the Governor, he has the option of either signing the bill into law or vetoing it.

The bill that has everyone's attention was delivered to Governor Hochul's office on Tuesday. Senator Joseph Addabbo and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow are responsible for its sponsorship. The bill is currently in the hands of the Governor, who can either sign it into law or exercise his or her authority to veto it, as it has already been approved by both the Senate and the Assembly with significant majorities across party lines.

Jobseekers "shouldn't be denied employment because they got a drug felony conviction," according to the assemblyman Pretlow, who was quoted in the New York Post as saying that the bill would create employment opportunities in casinos for people "who deserve a second chance."

Lack of available workers

The New York Post reports that legislators in the state of New York have observed a shortage of job seekers to fill certain roles in the casino industry. One of these establishments is the Rivers Casino and Resort, which is located in the state of New York's upstate region.

not against it in any way"

Rush Street, a gambling giant based in Chicago, responded to a question about its position on the employment of former criminals by stating that it was "not opposed to it." Instead, the company stated that it supported "the legislature's commitment to second chances and strengthening of the New York workforce."

If the bill is passed by Hochul, job applicants who have a prior felony conviction for embezzlement, theft, fraud, or perjury will continue to be disqualified from applying for a casino license or working in casinos if the bill is passed.

In the event that a casino run by former felons becomes a haven for organized crime, the New York State Gaming Commission will still have the authority under the new law "to deny or issue a gaming license," as Rush Street pointed out.

Bill draws fire

Since casino heist movies such as Ocean's Eleven and 3,000 Miles to Graceland are a part of popular culture in the United States, it should come as no surprise that the concept of former criminals working in casinos has its detractors. Nobody was more outspoken about their opposition to the legislation than state Conservative Party chairman Gerald Kassar, who called it "just wrong."

Kassar characterized the proposed legislation as "another example of the New York State Legislature imposing a liberal policy in an area they shouldn't touch."

With the opening of the operator application window on January 6, New York may soon see the addition of additional casinos to its skyline. On Monday, a group led by Caesars Entertainment and including New York property developer SL Green raised awareness about their application to open a casino in New York by forming a partnership with Jay-Z, who was born in Brooklyn, and his entertainment agency, Roc Nation.