S490

TRENTON – Saying that Internet wagering is an inevitable growth of casino gaming, State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, the sponsor of S-490, a bill to legalize intrastate Internet wagering for Atlantic City casinos, said today that he doesn’t want New Jersey to lose out to Las Vegas like we did on sports betting, on what will inevitably be a national and international market.

Senator Lesniak issued the following statement today regarding Governor Christie’s veto of S-490, and the Governor’s announced resolve to work with Senator Lesniak to make sure Internet wagering comes to the Garden State:

“Every year, New Jersey-based casinos lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs because the federal ban on sports wagering gives casinos in Las Vegas and other states around the nation an unfair advantage. We cannot afford to drag our feet on the next new development in wagering.

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, the sponsor of bills establishing intrastate Internet gambling and authorizing sports wagering in the Garden State as soon as the federal government’s ban is lifted issued the following testimony today urging the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee to approve his bills:

On S-490, which was unanimously approved by the Committee and would establish intrastate Internet Gambling in New Jersey –

“S-490 / A-2570, with the amendments proposed today, would allow New Jersey’s casinos to offer Internet gaming exclusively to New Jersey residents.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Raymond Lesniak, which would authorize Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos, was approved today by the Senate Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, by a vote of 3 to 1. According to fiscal consultants, the introduction of Internet gaming would generate an additional $275-$335 million a year in gaming wins to Atlantic City, as well as 2,100-2,400 jobs. Internet gaming would also generate between $60 and $70 million per year in tax revenues to the State.

“As the gaming community continues to change, it is imperative that Atlantic City remain competitive,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “Within recent years, our gaming industry has seen competition from neighboring states – the likes of which we have never had to deal with. By allowing Internet wagering, we would be stepping out into new territory, in an effort to make sure that New Jersey remains in the forefront of the gaming industry.”