New Jersey has become the third state in the US to legalise online gambling.
A revised bill got through votes in both houses of the legislature before being signed by Governor Chris Christie yesterday.
Assembly Bill A2578 and Senate Bill S1565 passed easily in their respective houses in December, but Governor Christie gave them a conditional veto when they reached his desk earlier this month.
Governor Christie wanted more money derived from online gambling to go towards problem gambling services, the online gaming revenue tax rate increased from 10 to 15 per cent, state elected officials to be required to disclose “past and present representation of entities seeking or holding internet gaming licensees” and a trial period of 10 years for online gaming, after which it would be reviewed and either continued or cancelled.
None of the changes were seen as serious obstacles to the bill’s eventual passage and they were not. Yesterday, the General Assembly voted in favour of the amended bill 68-5-1, while the Senate was almost unanimous, voting 35-1 in favour.
Under the new law, all games currently offered in New Jersey casinos will be legal online, a contrast to Nevada’s law, which only allows for online poker. All players must be located within New Jersey borders, though they do not need to be actual residents of New Jersey.
