New Jersey Assembly Approves Online Gambling Bill 01/13/2011

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Monday afternoon, Sen, Ray Lesniak's S490 Bill was approved that makes online gambling legal in New Jersey. The New Jersey Assembly get to a vote of 63-11 with 3 abstentions to allow Atlantic City casino operators to offer online gambling including poker to local residents. This bill will now go through the hands of Gov. Chris Christies for  his signature. If the bill is signed by the Representative, that will make New Jersey the first state to regulate and license onine gambling in the United States.

The gambling bill by Lesniak suggest that it “authorizes the online offering of "poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, big six wheel, slot machines, mini baccarat (sic), red dog, pai gow, and sic bo; any variations or composites of such games, provided that such variations or composites, and any above listed game or variation or composite of such game to be offered through Internet wagering." The bill also stressed out that online gambling operators must be a licensed Atlantic City operator and that all equipments to be used in internet gambling be located in Atlantic City casinos or any secure Atlantic city locations.

The bill is said to save the struggling casino industry in New Jersey. The vote came right after the released of Atlantic City's revenue figure revealing a gambling revenue fell of 9.6% in 2010. Overall betting proceeds drop to 31% from the 2006 figures of $5.2 billion. Slots revenue from 2009 fell off 9% with a $2.48 billion revenue last year while table games showed $1.9 billion, an 11% off compared to last year. In all, 11 casinos from Atlantic City was a down last year. Let us keep our eyes on how the online gambling legalization will affect or save the gambling industry in the said state.

There are also some bills that is waiting approval which includes Christie’s plan to create a state-run tourism district within Atlantic City, the transfer of certain regulatory matters from the state Casino Control Commission to the Division of Gaming Enforcement in the Dept. of Law and Public Safety, the establishment of a Casino Gaming Study Commission, and incentives for the state’s horse breeders. Can New Jersey be the trendsetter that will make gambling operators increase their hopes that legal online gambling will be considered to different states in the US?

Source: CasinoCityTimes

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