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Azzolina-Asselta Measure Granting Atlantic City Casinos Internet Gambling Status Introduced |
Azzolina-Asselta Measure Granting Atlantic City Casinos Internet Gambling Status Introduced
Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Joseph Azzolina and Nicholas Asselta that would allow Atlantic City casinos to engage in Internet wagering operations was introduced today.
The legislation would permit wagering from a remote location on actual table games in Atlantic City via the Internet. The measure would not change existing laws against wagering on
virtual or "on-line" casinos. It would, however, limit Internet wagering from distant locations to "real time" play only.
"The games wagered upon would be actual table games in Atlantic City casinos," said Azzolina, R-Monmouth, Middlesex. "Since they would be real games in every sense of the word, the games would be subject to existing state law regulating legalized wagering in New Jersey, as enforced by the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement."
"In this manner the state would be able to use its existing laws against gaming by minors," said Asselta, R-Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic. "Our legislation would extend the arm of the law into cyberspace by utilizing available technology to screen out minors or persons attempting to play a game from a prohibited jurisdiction."
"By ensuring the vitality of the Atlantic City casino industry, our legislation would protect existing jobs and help create new ones," said Asselta, the vice chairman of the Assembly Commerce, Tourism, Gaming and Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
"We have a brief three-to-four year period before casino gambling becomes a reality in New York," said Azzolina, chairman of the Assembly Commerce, Tourism, Gaming and Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. "We must help protect our gaming industry, which is a major employer in New Jersey and provides hundreds millions of dollars in tax revenues annually."
According to the sponsors, sophisticated security technology, such as digital face-recognition software already exists and is used by the casinos today. Such software could prohibit unauthorized users from placing Internet wagers. In addition, current technology exists that can block wagers from all but permitted jurisdictions.
The sponsors said the legislation could be an economic boom for the gaming industry in New Jersey.
"Our casinos currently face serious economic challenges, not only from existing casinos in Connecticut and slot operations at Delaware race tracks, but also from the recently-enacted legalization of casino gaming in New York," Azzolina said.
"At a time when the public is less inclined to travel, our legislation would provide a means of maintaining the vitality of Atlantic City casinos and enhancing their customer base," Asselta said.
"By helping the state casino industry expand its market, the measure would protect and create jobs. On-line or virtual gambling does not require real people to operate the games," Asselta said. "Our legislation, which uses real games at real casinos, would require casino workers and supervisors to run the table games that would provide the opportunity for remote patrons to play."
"Our legislation would expand access to casino gaming in New Jersey," Azzolina said. "It also would protect the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax receipts the state receives from the casinos and thus would protect the ultimate beneficiaries of that gross tax receipts money, New Jersey’s senior citizens and disabled."
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