No Gambling in New Jersey (Yet)

The 4th March was crunch day as far as New Jersey's gambling legalisation was concerned. Unfortunately for those who appreciate a bet, Governor James 'Chris' Christie has decided to veto the bill, which was passed with significant majorities in the State Assembly and Senate.

His reasons, which were received with some scepticism, have centred on the possibility of a clash with federal law (which prohibits online gambling), the specifics of provision for the continued support of the racing industry and the possibility of a clash with the New Jersey constitution (which limits gambling to the territory of Atlantic City).

Christie has also said that a referendum could be the way forward while Joe Brennan, chairman of the Interactive Media and Gaming Association and a supporter of the bill said that “regardless of what the governor did today, people are going to bet on the internet.”

The bill was expected to create 57,000 jobs in New Jersey, where the technology would be hosted, and would rake in $500 million in tax revenue.

Iowa's Legalisation Bill Passes Committee Stage

Iowa is one of several states competing with New Jersey to allow intrastate gambling within its borders. On March 3rd the Iowa State Government Committee votes 9 – 6 I favour of the bill and it will now progress to the Senate.

Iowa has implemented some interesting conditions into this bill – firstly that those chosen to run the sites would already have a bricks and mortar presence in the state and secondly that no organisation that has accepted bets online in the past in Iowa (even those present pre-UIGEA in 2006) would be allowed to tender for a license. This would preclude operators such as Full Tilt Poker and Partypoker from being involved.

Experience has shown from New Jersey however, that the biggest operators are not particularly interested in intrastate gambling, their markets are global and they just not prepared to get involved with the relatively restrictive practices the two bills presented so far have offered.



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