William Hill to Set up Shop in New Jersey

Believing that New Jersey will soon be the first US state to legalize online sports betting and poker, Gambling911.com has learned that William Hill is already in the process of setting up an office in the state.  They will immediately employ 6 individuals.  It was not clear at press time whether any of these jobs would go to state citizens or current William Hill associates. 

Online gambling organizations were beginning to shift their focus from federal lobbying efforts to the state level, with an emphasis on both New Jersey and California.  Attempts to legalize Internet poker in California hit a road block recently after an indictment was filed against the state Senator pushing for such the initiative.

It was unclear how much money William Hill, the United Kingdom’s second largest bookmaking operation, had pumped into the New Jersey efforts up to this point. 

European Gambling Sites Need To Get On Board Fast

Since only a limited number of licenses will be extended to online gambling operators in the state, competition is expected to be fierce.  European and a handful of Costa Rican-based online gambling enterprises were likely to be competing with existing brick and mortar casinos already based in Atlantic City and elsewhere within the US. 

The Interactive Media Entertainment And Gaming Association (iMEGA.org) was working with officials in New Jersey, specifically State Senator Ray Lesniak, to help get the legislation passed.

With passage in a Senate Committee this past June, the Intra-State Internet Gambling Bill could conceivably become law within the next six months. 

“Though we’re not across the finish line yet, the committee vote is significant progress,” said iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan Jr. “We’ve gotten to this point by making this debate about more than taxes from gaming revenue, which is a bit one-note. Instead, we’ve made a significant case for job creation, capital investment, and the opportunity for New Jersey to become the national and global hub for this industry. And those numbers make this a compelling option for New Jersey legislators to consider.”

Europeans these days may associate New Jersey with The Sopranos, Snooki and perhaps soon an easier entry and exit point to and from the New York City area via Newark’s Liberty Airport should online gambling become legalized in the state.

A Cure For New Jersey’s Ailing Economy

With the creation of an intra-state Internet gambling system, Econsult estimated that New Jersey could see the creation of up to 1,900 job, $250 million in annual gross gaming revenue and up to $55 million in annual state gaming taxes. Projecting outward, Econsult estimated that conservatively, New Jersey stands to realize the creation of up to 57,000 jobs, $7 billion in annual gross gaming revenue and up to $472 in annual state gaming taxes should it establish itself as the dominant hub for the industry.

“This industry has to offer more than just an opportunity for the state and operators to take revenue out of the population,” said Brennan. “It can have a more direct, positive affect than just increased tax revenues for the state to utilize for services. Being an engine for real job creation and attracting investment, and the opportunity to be the global hub for a high-tech industry is a much more meaningful opportunity for legislators to consider.”

iMEGA member organizations were likely to get first dibs on licenses since these are the companies presumably contributing to the vast legal and administrative costs tied into the campaign to legalize online gambling in New Jersey. 

Not Everyone Is Encouraged To See Gambling Online In NJ

A recent Press of Atlantic City question asked of readers: 

Should online gambling be legal in New Jersey?

The responses were mixed.

Absolutely no! The only thing so-called “gaming industry” has produced is more poor people.

Robert Caroccio, Ocean City

Talk about repossessions! Yes. I think the establishment should suck out every nickel from the hard-working public.

Tom Murphy, Atlantic City

Definitely. People already gamble online at offshore sites unregulated by our laws. We might as well legalize and tax this potential source of substantial revenue.

Steven Scheff, Cape May

Once upon a time there was only one gambling mecca — Vegas. Then came along Atlantic City, followed by hundreds. Online gambling played happily ever after.

Gale Latona, Little Egg Harbor Township

Internet gambling? Cause a lot of friction with all them other countries, us harvesting their gamblers, not giving them a cut. We’d be like Nigeria.

Sam Stewart, Galloway Township

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com Publisher