News

Wednesday, 30 March 2011 01:09

Speculation about whether New Jersey will allow or deny online gambling in the state came to an end on Thursday when the Governor vetoed the online gambling bill.

It was a wholly expected move by New Jersey's Governor, Chris Christie despite all the rumours and speculation that surrounded his choices for the weeks leading up to the deadline for his decision to be made. He cited a brace of "significant legal obstacles" being responsible for his final decision to prevent the bill being passed into law. This is despite the overwhelming support the bill had as it passed easily through the legislature with huge positive majorities in both significant votes.

Christie pointed out that there were sectors of the legislation that could be exploited. In particular, it did not cover the prohibiting of public places such as hotel lobbies, restaurants and cafes from being able to advertise online gaming, which has the potential to allow commercial gambling outside Atlantic City. It was a referendum held in 1976 that restricted all commercial gambling to Atlantic City. According to Christie, any expansion of gambling outside of the city would have to be approved by the voters in another referendum.

Christie was also at odds with another of the legislation's provisions that intends to use funds that are raised from online gambling to subsidise horse racing. He said that this would be in direct conflict with a goal of the administration to make the horse racing industry self-sustaining.

Opponents of Christie's stance have plenty to worry about. A poll taken in February by the Farleigh Dickinson University found that a hefty 67 percent of the state's voters actually oppose online gambling. A referendum could potentially quash any future attempts to legalise online gambling in the state.

Democratic sponsors said that Christie’s concerns can be addressed quite simply with an amendment that prohibited people from gathering in any place to gamble online. According to Sen. Raymond Lesniak, Christie is making up issues that don’t exist. He also said that the idea of holding a referendum can be easily dismissed by making some small tweaks to the measure and then be enacted through law.

Now that New Jersey seems to have stalled in its attempt to be the first state to have legalised online intra-state gambling, the race is once again wide open. With Iowa, California, Florida, South Carolina and Missouri all considering bills that could bring their states legal online gaming, the betting is now on to see who will be the first past the post.