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Attempts to legalise intrastate online gambling in the eastern state of New Jersey took another step forward this week after a State Senate committee approved proposed legislation that would permit Atlantic City casinos take wagers from gamblers.
Known as Senate Bill 1565 and sponsored by Democrat State Senators Raymond Lesniak and James Whelan, the proposed measure passed through the State Senate’s State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee by 11 votes to nil according to iMega’s Joe Brennan Jr, and would authorise ‘Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos to enable New Jersey residents to place wagers on casino games via the Internet’.
A similar measure was vetoed by Republican Governor Chris Christie last year following concerns over its legality while this latest legislation would potentially permit casinos in Atlantic City to accept wagers from punters in other states and nations as long as New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement determines that this doesn’t violate federal laws.
“This is another step forward toward my goal of New Jersey becoming the Silicon Valley of Internet gaming, generating hundreds of millions in revenues for our casino industry, thousands of jobs for Atlantic City and tens of millions of revenues for our Casino Revenue Fund to help seniors and the disabled,” Lesniak told The Associated Press.
Senate Bill 1565 is now scheduled to go before the Democrat-controlled New Jersey Senate for a vote with Lesniak declaring that he hoped to get the legislation through the 40-member body by September.
