New Jersey Senators Urge Christie to Act on Internet Gambling Bill

A bill to legalize Internet gambling in New Jersey passed with flying colors last week and now four state Senators have drafted a letter to Governor Chris Christie urging him to sign off on the measure.

New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney, Ray Lesniak, James Whelan (a former mayor of Atlantic City) and Jeff Van Drew each signed off on the letter to Christie, which pointed out the potential for the Garden State to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue. 

“Given the fiscal conditions facing our casinos, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and the recent movement toward Internet gaming in states across the country, we cannot afford to wait any longer for implementation.

“The fact is, Atlantic City has the potential to become a hub of Internet gaming, which will create more jobs, more revenue for casinos and generate more funding for critical programs for senior citizens and residents with disabilities,” the legislators added in a statement.

“The short term benefits would be in the form of increased economic activity, increased jobs and increased tax revenues, at very little cost to the state. Over the long term, Internet gaming could change the landscape of the gaming industry in New Jersey.”

While Christie did veto a similar bill last year, a DOJ decision has since paved the way for states to begin legalizing online poker and other forms of casino games.  Sources close to Gambling911.com have also suggested that Christie is more open to the idea of legalized Web gambling in the state.  He has made comments supporting this notion.

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher