Home » OCW News » June 2010 » New Jersey Online Gambling Debates Heats Up

New Jersey Online Gambling Debates Heats Up

Date published: 22 June 2010

This SlideShowPro photo gallery requires the Flash Player plugin and a web browser with JavaScript enabled.

New Jersey is renowned for being one of the more liberal states in the U.S. where its gambling laws are concerned being home to Atlantic City, however it is currently embroiled in a debate over whether to legalise online gambling.

Due to the recession, gambling revenues are down in New Jersey which is why state legislators as well as representatives of the state's land gambling industry are seeking ways to bolster the ailing industry, although via seemingly different means.

While the State Senate Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee proposed a bill (S490) that will allow land casinos in Atlantic City to offer online gambling services, the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) is against this.

As it explained in a statement: 'As the industry seeks to work with government to revitalize the economic engine that the Atlantic City casinos bring to New Jersey, the last thing that the state needs at this time is to undermine the destination resort model by expanding gambling to other parts of the state.'

Don't miss...

So with state legislators and CANJ at loggerheads, the question is which will ultimately get their way. Legislators are looking out for the gambling interests of the state, while CANJ - which represents 11 Atlantic City casinos - seeks to block further competition.

If the state gets its way, over and above the proposed online gambling regulations, racetracks in the state could also be allowed to offer slot machines, which could have a possible knock-on effect on the revenues of casinos in Atlantic City.

Senator Raymond Lesniak, the sponsor of S490, explained, 'They [various gambling operators in NJ] don't realize, or don't want to realize, that they're killing each other. It's time for the Legislature and the governor to adopt a policy based on maximizing revenues from gaming and saving our dying tourist attractions.'