Chris Christie: New Jersey Should Be Online Gambling's 'Epicenter'

New Jersey's legislature has briefly delayed a vote on a bill that would legalize online gambling but Governor Chris Christie said the state should become an "epicenter" for the business.

A Christie spokesman confirmed the Republican governor's remarks, his first regarding online gambling after he vetoed a similar measure last year, questioning its legality.

Christie said: "I think we should be an epicenter for that business, but I want to do it right -- I do not want to rush and get legislation that either doesn't pass state constitutional muster, or creates other problems for us."

New Jersey's Atlantic City resorts have struggled in recent years due to fierce competition from neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and Connecticut, which gained new tax revenue and jobs. The competition will get even stiffer if New York state legalizes table games, as Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed on Wednesday.

If legalized by New Jersey, Internet-based gambling would be limited to state residents, who would need to be in the state when playing, The Record newspaper reported in its print edition on Wednesday. Additionally, computer servers for the games -- poker, blackjack and baccarat -- would have to be located in New Jersey's Atlantic City, a bid to boost its resorts.

Christie vetoed a similar measure last year to legalize online gambling, but The Star Ledger said a late December ruling by the Justice Department clarified legal concerns held by the governor.

New Jersey's Internet gambling bill, if approved, would not allow betting on sports, in accordance with the Justice Department's ruling that online gaming does not violate the law but sports gaming remains illegal.

The state legislature was expected to vote on the Internet gaming measure on Monday, but its chief backer, Democratic Senator Raymond Lesniak, in a statement on Wednesday said he expected lawmakers to enact a bill and send it to Christie in the first few weeks of the new legislative session.

The current session ends on Monday. The new session begins on Tuesday, a Lesniak spokesman said by email.

(Reporting By Joan Gralla; Editing by Leslie Adler and Diane Craft)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[Alden123]

08:54 AM on 04/03/2012

gambling is good source for entertainment ,

[fortressfountain]

03:30 PM on 01/05/2012

The state already has the lottery and Atlantic city so what is the big deal? A stall tatic to have the gov. involved to pick up tax revenue and such.
It is o.k if these people snoop into our personal lives but yet they all say they are for less government. Yeah, right.

[Peter007]

03:25 PM on 01/05/2012

The state already runs the drug business and has the gambling business going.
One question..

When will New Jersey get into the prostitution Business?

[judiNJ]

04:16 PM on 01/05/2012

Just give him time... any day now, any day.....

[bachmantsk]

02:45 PM on 01/05/2012

Gambling and crime go together. The misery index goes up. Can't think of a better state for that epicenter. Atta boy Christie.

[anthony enlow]

02:26 PM on 01/05/2012

Especially after all the lobbying money they gave me

[oilfield]

01:42 PM on 01/05/2012

sounds like a boom for the server farm and proxy server business too.

[RecreationalPilot]

10:41 AM on 01/05/2012

NJ Residents Only - Gambling ONLY from within the state.

I guess when an addicted person bankrupts himself in a couple of hours, from the comfort of their own home, without others watching whether he is incapacitated, under the influence or disturbed that would be able to stop him...

It would make it easier for the Sheriff's Department to serve him notice that he's being kicked out of his house. None of that Interstate Law stuff to deal with... NJ residents will lose their homes in seconds flat, with no recourse, no other state to help protect them, no one to ensure that they were competent and within their capacity to wager. Nice and efficient redistribution.

[RecreationalPilot]

10:35 AM on 01/05/2012

NJ's casinos can't do it right, but the on-line gambling industry will be done right?

Someone is going to be d-u-m-b enough to electronically gamble, over the web, hoping that some randomizing software that is capped to only produce an outcome every so often will reap some kind of windfall?

NJ can't get Charter Schools right - the only state that doesn't allow town input, but this will work?

[susanbsbi]

09:53 AM on 01/05/2012

At least he is thinking it through before allow online gambling in the state. He realize the state could use the money, but wants to do it the correct way