New York is one step closer to regulating online poker following a favorable state Senate committee vote.

On Thursday morning, New York’s state Senate Finance Committee overwhelmingly approved Sen. John Bonacic’s S5302 bill in a lightning-fast affair that mimicked February’s blink-and-you-missed-it approval by the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.

Thursday’s only contrary opinion came from Sen. Liz Kruger, who said – we think, as the webcast’s audio feed turned everyone into Charlie Brown’s parents – there ought to be more public hearings on a subject with such “very broad ramifications.”

The committee’s approval means S5302 will likely get a vote by the full Senate. Before anyone gets their hopes up, keep in mind that the state Assembly’s membership is said to be far less enthusiastic about online poker and the legislature is scheduled to adjourn on June 16, meaning there’s high hurdles to clear and not much time in which to clear them.