News
New Jersey and DoJ in Online Gambling Dog Fight
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 09:52
The State of New Jersey, in their bid to legalise online gambling, have a new obstacle to overcome as the Department of Justice joins the fray.
It seems that any attempt by any authority in the United States to bring legalised online gambling to its citizens is blocked at every turn. This time it is the turn of the State of New Jersey that has been actively putting the wheels in motion to get intra-state online gambling legalised, in part to boost its flagging Atlantic City casino business. The state lawmakers had been successful up until now in getting legislation to the point where it has cleared the several political hurdles needed to bring it to the place where it can be signed into law. The bill is backed by the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) and has a good chance of being passed.
Time to throw a spanner in the works as the Department of Justice casts its baleful eye over the whole affair and shakes its proverbial head disapprovingly. By announcing its opposition to the state's attempts to legalise sports betting within the state, the DoJ has have placed itself directly in the path of the bill's passage and have created a scenario where the state now has to justify its actions.
Notification of the stance taken by the DoJ has been given to Judge Garrett E. Brown. The letter of opposition will be used as a part of its ongoing defence against iMEGA in their battle to have the sports betting laws overturned in the United States.
New Jersey passed legislation in November 2010 allowing a voter poll to be taken from the eight million or so residents of the state to gauge the amount of support the bill would have. This legislation had the backing of State Senator Ray Lesniak.
The Federal law that bans sports betting is claimed as being unconstitutional by iMEGA, as it prevents New Jersey residents from betting on sports while allowing it in other states, such as Nevada and Delaware. In its defence, the DoJ claims that iMEGA is not legally entitled to bring such action against the United States government.
This intervention by the DoJ could delay the passage of New Jersey's gambling bill and put the brakes on its proposals to reverse the fortunes of its gambling industry. Atlantic City and the casino industry may have to wait a little longer for justice to be seen to be done.
