As the launch of real-money online gaming in New Jersey got under way yesterday, state senator Raymond Lesniak was announcing a new initiative to put the state “at the hub” of the international gaming industry.
The plan would help attract international gaming companies to New Jersey, producing jobs, state revenue and economic expansion, Lesniak said.
“This could make New Jersey the leader in online gaming. We are well positioned to take advantage of a dynamic opportunity to be at the hub of a new business sector with the potential for economic growth and job creation,” he told a conference call.
“We offer the stability and security of a regulated marketplace, we have an educated workforce and a high-tech infrastructure. New Jersey could be a global destination for internet gaming.”
The senator’s bill would authorise the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement to provide licences to companies that offer internet gaming to other countries where it is legal, allowing overseas customers, including casinos, to place wagers on casino games via the Internet.
The service would be restricted to foreign countries and regulatory agreements (so-called compacts) would have to be implemented between New Jersey and the foreign jurisdiction.
The bill requires that the entire foreign internet wagering operation, including facilities, equipment and personnel, shall be located in a secure facility inaccessible to the public and specifically designed for that purpose at an approved location in New Jersey.
