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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:44 am New Jersey proposed new Internet Gambling Law
Jan. 15, 2010 - A newly proposed law would allow Internet gambling by New Jersey residents,
to be offered on Web sites through the state's casinos in Atlantic City. The bill was introduced into
the New Jersey senate by Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union), who also introduced a separate
bill which calls for New Jersey residents to vote on a constitutional amendment that would
permit state-regulated sports wagering in Atlantic City casinos, and to state residents via an
intra-state Internet gambling system.
New Jersey currently offers wagering on horse races to state residents through the 4NJbets.com
Web site. The state would expand the law to permit Internet versions of games currently allowed
in Atlantic City casinos, such as Poker, Blackjack and Baccarat. The intra-state Internet gambling
system would be regulated by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, which
would establish a Division of Internet Wagering to oversee operations and licensing.
"We're happy that New Jersey has taken this issue into their own hands," said iMEGA chairman
Joe Brennan Jr. "New Jersey is recognized as having the toughest gaming regulators in the US,
but as a leading gaming state with a long track record of doing things the right way,
Internet gambling will have a great home here and the opportunity to begin normalizing the industry."
Though iMEGA supports efforts in Washington DC, especially by Rep. Barney Frank (D)
in the House and Sen. Robert Menendez (D) in the Senate, to create a Federal path to regulation,
the association worked with New Jersey legislators on the bill to ensure continued progress toward
regulated Internet gambling in the US.
"The efforts to resolve the Internet gambling issue have stalled in Washington DC,'
Brennan said. "If states assert their right to regulate gambling within their borders and take
a serious look at permitting Internet gambling, one side effect may be a breaking of the deadlock
in the US Congress."
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