Online Gambling Bill approved in New Jersey

The residents of New Jersey won't have to wait any longer for online casino gambling has already been legalized in their state. Last January 10, 2011 - the state's Senate Budget Committee approved the online gambling bill which paved the way for New Jersey to become the first U.S state to signed such bill.


The online gambling bill A-2570 and the sports betting bill S-490 were both proposed last year. However, only the sports betting bill was approved. According to the Assembly, certain amendments required ratification which is why the vote was held back and scheduled for January 6. On that day also a vote could not take place and a fresh date of January 10 was given. Now New Jersey online gamblers will not mind the minor issues because a major landmark has been achieved.


Hopefully, this New Jersey bill would provide a larger national implications. The vote in the Assembly was 63 to 11 in favor with three abstentions. The bill now goes to the desk of Governor Chris Christie, whose signature would create the first legal online gambling jurisdiction in the United States. Even if Mr. Christie does not take any action in the statutory 45 day period, his assent will deemed to have been given and the bill would become law. Actually the governor do have the power to reject the bill, but since A-2570 has received bipartisan support in the Assembly, it will be very difficult for Christie not to sign the online gambling bill. The governor would have to come out with some really special reasons to counter the plans that the bill will create 500 high tech jobs and add significantly to the state revenue in these troubled times.


Sponsored by Senator Raymond Lesniak, the online gambling bill A-2570 is believed to serve as a model which allows Americans to gamble within the premises of their own homes. It will also enable licensed operators to offer online poker and online casino games. The said games would include roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, big six wheel, slot machines, red dog, pai gow poker and sic bo.


Aside from these, the bill specifies as well that Internet gambling operators have to be licensed Atlantic City casino operators, and that all equipment used to conduct Internet gaming must be located either in Atlantic City casinos or a "secure" location in Atlantic City.