Will Online Gambling Really Discourage People From Visiting Atlantic City?

An opinion piece in the Bergen Record suggests that the legalization of online gambling in the state of New Jersey (looking more inevitable by the day) may do more harm than good.  In particular, online gambling could serve to actually discourage people from visiting Atlantic City.

The state is looking to become the “Silicon Valley” of Internet gambling by hosting the servers out of AC.  The opinion piece, however, suggests once these poker rooms are in folks living rooms, they won’t have a reason to visit Atlantic City any more. 

From The Record: 

Supporters say online gambling can increase casino revenue by as much as $250 million and bring the state $55 million annually in taxes. It may indeed do some of that, but it also would do something else: discourage people from visiting Atlantic City. And that makes no sense.

But it is this type of rhetoric (no offense to the author) that caused Vegas interests to drop the ball way back when until they finally managed to see the light.  Needless-to-say, they’ve fallen way behind the eight ball.  Las Vegas casinos noticed a surge in business brought on by the World Series of Poker.  A significant number of those taking part in the Main Event won their way in through online poker satellites. 

Web poker simply supplements the brick and mortar industry.  In the end, there is nothing better than the real thing. 

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com