Online Poker Regulations Approved by New Jersey Regulations
January 13, 2012The Governor of New Jersey approved online poker being operated within the site. However, New Jersey has to wait till the next session for the bill to be passed as the current session is over. Nevada has already set the stage for online poker. In the race for becoming the first US state to offer online poker services, New Jersey had tried hard to pass the bill in the previous session.
However, Nevada has already adopted regulations for online poker. Attempts have been initiated by states like California and Iowa to consider measures for the approval of intrastate online poker regulations. Despite the delay in passing its online poker bill, New Jersey is figuring out a way to be among the first US state to offer online poker products legally to its residents.
Sen. Raymond Lesniak, who has been serving in the State Senate of New Jersey since 1983, stated that he will re-introduce the bill in the next session. He will try to pass the bill through the legislature and get it signed by the governor in the first few days of the new session.
Proposed Bill was Intended be Approved in the Beginning of 2011
The proposed bill would have been approved by the state legislature in the initial months of 2011. However, Governor Christie used his veto power to negate the proposal. He cited a few reasons for his actions. Christie stated that the state’s constitution mentions that gaming should be limited to the Atlantic City.
Based on his opinion, the new bill was modified. According to the bill, gaming sites will operate from within the Atlantic City. The modified bill combined with the DOJ’s clarification on the Wire Act, changed the governor’s position. DOJ’s recent announcement made it clear that the Wire Act holds good solely for sports betting activities.
Governor Christie – Current Bill Makes Sense
Governor Christie stated that he vetoed the previous bill as it would have opened the way for online gambling houses to operate from any part of New Jersey. The current bill states that gambling operations will be limited to the Atlantic City. This is in line with the constitution of the state.
Lesniak stated that he has high hopes that New Jersey will be able to become one of the first states in the US to accept wagers from its players legally.
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