New Jersey could legalize online gambling

Submitted on Thu, 2010-01-21 07:11Atlantic City is a popular gambling resort in New Jersey, home to a number of great casinos. But now these casinos might be providing players with a different way to get involved – by playing online.

A new bill has just been introduced that, if it goes ahead, could see online gambling legalized for residents of New Jersey. The proposal was only put forward last week by Senator Ray Lesniak. If it goes ahead, it will authorize casinos in Atlantic City to offer online games to residents of New Jersey. If the bill is approved, casinos will be granted with one-year online gaming licenses that will come with a 20 percent tax.

Figures were recently released from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission that showed that the area had suffered heavily during the last year. It only had a $3.9 billion annual revenue, which was down 13 percent from 2008. This was the lowest that had been seen for 12 years.

Joe Brennan Jr., the chairman of the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association, said that “New Jersey is recognised as having the toughest gaming regulations in the

, 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 can begin normalising the industry.”

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