Gov. Chris Christie said Wednesday he supports Internet gambling if it complies with the constitution and is focused in Atlantic City. The governor vetoed a previous online betting bill. This bill would let customers create online accounts with casinos. They would have to be in New Jersey when placing bets.

A spokesman for the governor could not say Monday whether Christie would sign the bill if it passes. A spokesman for Senate leadership said it won’t be clear until Tuesday whether there’s enough support to move forward quickly on the bill, and a spokesman for Assembly leadership said leaders would listen to Lesniak’s request before deciding on a course of action.

Nevada is already moving fast to capitalize on the ruling. Late last week, the state’s gambling regulators approved rules that allow companies in the state to apply for licenses to operate poker web sites. Caesars Entertainment Corp., which owns four of Atlantic City’s 11 casinos, and Boyd Gaming Corp., which owns half of the city’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, have already submitted proposals to be licensed in Nevada.

Internet gambling is the future of the casino industry, whether it’s approved at the federal or state level, a panel of online and brick-and-mortar casino executives said Tuesday.

And a New Jersey lawmaker predicted there will be a ballot question next year asking his state’s residents whether to amend the state Constitution to allow Internet gambling.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress, executives from two online betting organizations and Caesars Entertainment said the Internet provides the gambling industry its best opportunity for growth. But the prospect of a federal law permitting it appears dim in light of recent federal raids on online gambling sites.

More at ABC News.

The bill sponsored by state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, specifically would allow “New Jersey residents to place wagers on casino games via the Internet,” according to the text of the legislation.

All games, including poker, would be offered through Internet wagering, the bill states.

In addition, the bill would require that the equipment used to operate the Internet wagering be located in a restricted area of a casino hotel or in a secure facility off the premises of the casino hotel, “but within the territorial limits of Atlantic County.”

The bill comes with an annual tax of 20 percent on gross revenue from Internet wagering, which would be paid into a casino revenue fund. It also provides for the creation of a Division of Internet Wagering under the direction of the state Casino Control Commission.

Additionally, the Casino Control Commission and the New Jersey Racing Commission would allow the operation of terminals at racetracks at which “individuals who have registered to participate in Internet wagering may wager on games conducted at casinos in Atlantic City.”

Those terminals would be identical in appearance to casino slot machines.

The full text of the proposed legislation, S3167, “Permits Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos under certain circumstances,” is available here.

Source: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_dfdd5dcc-0375-11df-b557-001cc4c002e0.html

The unanimous decision by three judges of division I of the appeals court says that Rousso would have to show that policing Internet poker imposes excessive burdens and not worth the state’s commitment to regulating gaming.

“Ultimately, given the importance of the state’s interest in protecting its citizens from the ills associated with gambling, and the relatively small cost imposed on out-of-state businesses by complying…Rousso has failed to meet his burden….”

Rousso said appeals court rejected many of the state’s arguments in the case, so he is leaning in favor of taking the case to the state Supreme Court…

While in New Jersey, a group representing gaming and horse-racing industries in New Jersey filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to overturn a federal law that bans sports betting in New Jersey and most other U.S. states.

The suit filed against the federal government claims the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 violates five amendments to the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against the people of New Jersey and by regulating a matter that should be reserved to the states.

Gaming is an important industry in New Jersey, with 11 casinos located in Atlantic City. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine told reporters the initiative to legalize sports betting was “worth pursuing” and would boost Atlantic City if it happened.