New Jersey Approves Online Gaming

Governor Christie gave his approval to legislation that allows the state to move forward with online gaming.

February 11, 2013

TRENTON - Last week New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie put forward a proposal that supports the implementation of Internet gaming in the state. According to the governor??s website, Christie concludes that "now is the right time for the state to move forward and again lead the nation by becoming one of the first states" to allow online gaming.

"This bill represents an important policy decision for the residents of New Jersey, and a historic opportunity to continue the state's leadership as a premiere destination for tourism and entertainment. Such a significant step must be carefully considered, balancing the benefits of job creation, economic development, and the continued revitalization of Atlantic City against the risks of addiction, corruption and improper influence. It is my duty as governor to make these determinations," Christie said.

The proposal, contained in Christie??s conditional veto of Assembly Bill 2578, would revise and supplement the "Casino Control Act" to authorize Internet gaming through the licensed casinos operating in Atlantic City. The governor recommends safeguards for gambling addiction: "With these changes, we will increase resources to treat compulsive gambling, provide sensible safeguards to ensure careful oversight and a proper annual review of the implementation of Internet gaming, along with a 10-year sunset for future leaders to carefully reevaluate Internet gaming as a state policy broadly and critical transparency measures to guard against undue and improper influence and self-dealing."

In his conditional veto, Christie also gave "great weight" to concerns over the potential spread of excessive gambling: "Our state cannot carelessly create a new generation of addicted gamers, sitting in their homes, using laptops or iPads, gambling their salaries and their futures," he said.

To protect against a proliferation of gambling addiction, the governor proposed an annual analysis of the potential harms associated with these new games to be undertaken at the expense of the gaming licensees. Furthermore, he recommends that Internet gaming and its societal impact should be studied and periodically revisited. To that end, he proposes that the law sunset after a period of 10 years, giving future policymakers the opportunity to revise and renew the law if appropriate.

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