New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Union) recently introduced a bill into State legislature that would allow online gambling and sports betting in the State.  Members of the Casino Association of New Jersey have now expressed a contrary opinion to the recent legislation to allow residents to participate in online gambling over the Internet.  The online gambling categories that would be permitted under this law are online poker and other casino games as well as sports betting.

Joe Corbo, the President of the Casino Association of New Jersey, has urged his fellow lawmakers to outright reject or delay this legislation.  His objection is based on four specific aspects of the proposed legislation:

·         The proposed legislation disregards current regulatory national gambling laws in the United States.  It violates the Wire Act of the Federal government which bans both Internet online gambling and sports betting.

·         The proposed legislation expands gambling beyond the borders of Atlantic City.

·          The proposed legislation violates the existing Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.

·         The proposed legislation affirms the lobbying activities of iMEGA, which stands for the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association.  This trade association has lobbied hard for the legalization of online gambling, and has set its sights on the State of New Jersey.  Joe Brennan, the CEO of iMEGA, says that the group is classified as a 501c6 not-for-profit trade association that is incorporated in the State of New Jersey.

The views held by Joe Corbo are not held exclusively by other lawmakers in New Jersey.  For example, State Senator Jim Whalen (D-Atlantic) has supported the measures presented through the legislation of Ray Lesniak.  Whalen states he is in favour of the sports betting resolution, and will vote for the adoption of this measure.

Additionally, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., has publicly stated its support of the new legislation as a way of boosting the slumping gambling market in Atlantic City.  Don Marrandino, President of the Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s Resorts and Showboat properties, is well aware that the casino revenues for the 11 casinos in Atlantic City are in for the month of May, 2010, and the results are not good. 

Revenues for May dropped nine percent, a perceptible drop that continues a troubling trend that threatens the existence of the casino industry in New Jersey.