PPA Chief Meets With Chris Christie Staff to Talk Online Gambling Bill

With just a few days left for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to either sign or veto a bill legalizing online gambling in the Garden State, Poker Players Alliance head John Pappas met with the a senior advisor to the Governor on Tuesday. 

The Governor last week suggested he was leaning towards vetoing the latest reincarnation of a bill he vetoed nearly two years prior.   During a radio appearance, Christie suggested that Web gambling could further keep people from visiting Atlantic City.  He also questioned whether such activity might result in a “new generation of addicted gamblers” due to the easy accessibility.

But with Nevada having already legalized Web poker and Florida considering doing the same, New Jersey could end up losing out big time.  Pappas hoped to get that point across during the Tuesday meeting. 

“I definitely think the meeting went very well, because we were given a great deal of latitude to expand on our two key points,” said Pappas, who did not identify the official. “We talked about the economic benefits of legalization, and the consumer protections that can help problem gamblers. It’s clear that the Governor is still deliberating on this matter, and a decision hasn’t been made.”

Christie’s concerns over Internet gambling deterring people from visiting Atlantic City may be moot should the world’s largest real money Web poker room, PokerStars, end up buying the troubled Atlantic Club Casino (formerly the Atlantic City Hilton).  Stars would likely incorporate Atlantic City into its extensive poker tournament schedule, resulting in thousands of new visitors from around the globe. 

- Ace King, Gambling911.com