Two More Casinos Approved for Online Gambling in New Jersey

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - New Jersey approved two additional casinos Wednesday to conduct Internet gambling, bringing the total to seven so far.

But last-minute testing that was to continue late into the night might knock some out of the running for Thursday night's launch of a five-day test period, also called soft play.

David Rebuck, director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, said his office was testing the systems of the seven casinos.

Each Internet permit authorizes a holder to run up to five gambling websites; the division will issue a list of those that made the final cut Thursday.

"All the companies who meet our testing standards at the end of tonight that we feel comfortable with for soft play will get an order to commence soft play," Rebuck said. He said he is optimistic the casinos are ready for a successful online gambling launch.

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The state Casino Control Commission granted a casino license Wednesday to Caesars Interactive, a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment. Right afterward, the gambling enforcement division granted Internet gambling permits to Caesars Atlantic City and Bally's Atlantic City.

Caesars Entertainment is the world's largest casino company and owns four casinos in Atlantic City: Caesars, Bally's, Harrah's Resort Atlantic City and the Showboat Casino Hotel. The company was eligible for permits for all four casinos but only applied for two.

If all goes well with the trial, Internet gambling will begin statewide on Tuesday.

"As we prepare for and anticipate the launch of Internet gaming, I am excited about the opportunity that Internet gaming will create for New Jersey and Atlantic City in particular," said Matthew Levinson, the commission's chairman. "Not only is it an economic opportunity for the casinos to provide Internet gaming as another entertainment option, but it will undoubtedly create broader economic benefits through new jobs in areas such as technology and marketing, as well as enhance opportunities for related businesses."

In addition to Caesars and Bally's, the state has issued Internet gambling permits to the two Trump casinos, the Tropicana Casino and Resort; the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and the Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

The invitation-only test period starts at 6 p.m. Thursday and runs through Monday.

It is designed to test the many complex systems involved, including multilayered technology to ensure that gamblers are physically within New Jersey's borders while gambling, and that they are 21 or older.

Other systems involve electronic payments, and the casino games themselves. The casinos will offer online versions of all the table and slots games currently offered at brick and mortar casinos.

New Jersey will become the third state in the nation to offer Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware.