Bill could make New Jersey first with legal Internet gambling

New Jersey wants to become the first state to legalize Internet gambling.

State lawmakers are being asked to consider a bill this week that would approve online casino gaming, such as poker. The move mirrors a similar effort in California.

“There are probably 500,000 online poker players in New Jersey alone. And we’re missing out on around $100 million in revenue,” State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, the bill’s sponsor, told the Press of Atlantic City.

The move would empower only licensed New Jersey casinos, all of which are located in Atlantic City, to run Web sites that offer various games.

The text of the bill specifically would allow “New Jersey residents to place wagers on casino games via the Internet.”

The bill requires that the equipment used to operate Internet wagering be located in a restricted area of an Atlantic City casino.

Federal legislation was signed in 2006 that ordered U.S banks to block their credit and debit cards from carrying payments to online gambling companies located outside the U.S.

See the "Press of Atlantic City" story: Bill would allow Atlantic City casinos to offer Internet gambling