SEARCH NEWS:

 

New Jersey Legislators Promote Their Net Gambling Bill

Two Democrats, Anthony Impreveduto of Hudson and Neil Cohen of Union, introduced the bill Jan. 18. It faces opposition in the Republican-controlled legislature. The Atlantic City casino industry, at least initially, also opposed the bill.

The bill, A-3150, would permit regulated Internet gambling sites to be operated from licensed Atlantic City casinos. The sites would be regulated by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

The Internet operations would be subject to the same taxes – including 8 percent on gross revenue – and regulations that apply to Atlantic City's bricks-and-mortar casinos. In addition, access to the online casinos would be restricted to those who can prove they are at least 21 years old. The software would have to include features to combat compulsive gambling, such as voluntary loss limits.

At today's press conference, Impreveduto and Cohen introduced a New Jersey lawyer, Thomas P. Lutz, who said he represents a New Jersey resident who has sued "an unlicensed Net gambling site" that refused to pay a $50,000 jackpot that Lutz's client won.

"If Assemblymen Impreveduto and Cohen are successful in their effort," Lutz said in a statement, "people like my clients won't have to file lawsuits to collect, because all their gambling will be done with reputable and regulated Atlantic City casinos.

"Their bill gives consumers and the state accountability. So far, the online Internet gambling industry is accountable to no one." Lutz did not say which casino had stiffed his client, and he could not be reached for questions.

Also appearing with Impreveduto and Cohen were executives of a Nevada company, Internet Gaming Solutions. They discussed their software, which they said can prevent children and problem gamblers from betting online.

The executives, Pat Rogers and Nathan Damianos, were involved in an abortive effort last fall to persuade the city of Las Vegas to license its name and seal to entrepreneurs who planned to set up an online casino that would have been licensed in Australia. Last month, Australia invoked a moratorium on new Internet gambling licenses.

Tibor Vertes, another person who had supported the Las Vegas plan, appeared at today's press conference in Trenton. Vertes is chief executive of Gaming & Entertainment Technology, an Australian company that develops gaming software for Internet casinos that operate in regulated jurisdictions.

David Schwartz, a spokesman for the Democrats in the New Jersey Assembly, told RGT Online that the purpose of explaining the software that's available to regulate online casinos for the protection of consumers was to make legislators aware of new technology.

"This is technology that's here today," Schwartz said. "You can regulate them (Internet casinos) the way you want to, now. It's a matter of going through the political process to get it done."

Schwartz said there is bipartisan support in the Assembly for the Impreveduto/Cohen bill. Thirty-five members of the Assembly's 80 members are Democrats.

"Internet gambling is an unlicensed, unmonitored and unregulated industry," Impreveduto said in a statement. "It's the Wild, Wild Net and New Jersey consumers have no way to collect winnings and no way to block children from gambling on these sites."

Cohen added: "Online wagering has become a booming multi-million dollar business for entrepreneurs who have set up shop in offshore locales far outside our traditional enforcement reach. New Jersey needs to get in step with these changing gambling trends and offer its residents a better, safer product."

< Gaming News