New Jersey Attempts to Pass State Senate Bill

Submitted by Beth on Mon, 2010-06-07 at 20:39

Legislators in New Jersey have received an application for a bill which would allow residents to gamble online. The bill covers New Jersey residents only and would not legalize online gambling in any other state.

Specifically, the bill would make it legal for land-based casinos in Atlantic City to run online casinos as well. Because of the decrease in players in Atlantic City, the state of New Jersey has been feeling the pinch ever since online gambling became available. Even though the UIGEA bans financial institutions from processing payment to and from online casinos, US residents have still been able to gamble via offshore online casinos.

Some authorities are still trying to stop legalized online gambling in New Jersey, their reason being the safety of citizens. However, it looks as though the financial difficulties of the state are winning that war and legislators are making debt a priority.

In fact, some New Jersey legislators are moving to avoid the UIGEA entirely instead of working around it. New Jersey wants their own online gambling laws so that they can keep the revenue earned through the industry within the country and allow their residents the freedom to spend their money as they wish. It is estimated that online gamblers in New Jersey spend $150 million every year.