News

Wednesday, 30 March 2011 00:57

Speculation is rife as to why the Governor of New Jersey has so far failed to sign into law the Bill to allow online gambling in the State.

Over a month ago, the legislature in the State of New Jersey passed a bill that would allow its residents to legally gamble online using Atlantic City casino run websites. All that is needed for the bill to be made law is for the Governor to add his signature. But five weeks later, nothing has happened and the paperwork sits unsigned and ineffective in the governor's office, so what is going on in the State of New Jersey?

The proposals by this legislation allow Atlantic City casinos to provide a wide range of online casino games to residents in the State including slots, roulette, craps, black jack and poker. According to a recent iMEGA commissioned study, the proposed system of intra-state online gambling ahs the potential to raise as much as $250 million worth of revenue plus an extra tax windfall of $55 million. All the hard work has been done and the Bill has passed through every stage of the State Senate with flying colours, but to make the Bill lawful, the signature of the State's Governor, Chris Christie must be added to it. 

Last month, lMEGA chairman Joe Brennan said how close this has brought New Jersey to becoming the very first Internet gaming market in the United States and that he expected this to happen within the month. Industry experts tend to agree with his sentiments and are similarly optimistic over the probability of the Bill becoming law.

Christie's lack of comment on this issue has got many people baffled as to why the final hurdle has not been crossed by his office. To this end, there is a lot of speculation over his hesitancy to sign the Bill amid rumours that he is coming under fire from powerful anti-gambling factions even at this late stage. Whatever happens, there is a 45 day deadline for the Bill to be signed before it automatically passes into law if no action is taken by the governor and that deadline is rapidly approaching.

Other States are not far behind with their own Bills to bring in legalised intra-state online gambling. Both Florida and California are front runners in this race to make it legal to gamble on the Internet and to boost their flagging economies with the revenue that legislation and regulation would generate.