POSTIVE ONLINE GAMBLING DEVELOPMENTS IN NEW JERSEY


Wednesday June 20, 2012 : POSTIVE ONLINE GAMBLING DEVELOPMENTS IN NEW JERSEY (Update)
 
Lesniak legalization bill through House panel and now goes to vote
 
Months of politicking and legal drafting are starting to show results in New Jersey, where Sen. Ray Lesniak's latest proposal to legalise online gambling passed a tough Appropriations Committee hearing Monday and now goes forward for a full Assembly vote, according to the local newspaper Star-Ledger.
 
The Lesniak measure still allows Atlantic City online casino and poker operators to accept internet action from gamblers outside the state's borders, although that is subject to compliance with US federal law.
 
The newspaper notes, however, that a date for the vote, and presumably further action in the state Senate, has yet to be set.
 
The on-again, off-again relationship between state governor Chris Christie and Lesniak's efforts appears to be on neutral ground at present, with the governor not taking a strong position either way.
 
Last year he exercised his veto to kill a similar bill, although this year Lesniak has worked hard to make amendments that the governor can live with.