Gov. Christie's Internet Gambling Bill Decision To Be Made Thursday
By Robin Rieger
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) – New Jersey governor Chris Christie toured the Sea Girts oceanfront Wednesday to see the progress being made in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy.
The Monmouth County town is spending $2.5 million on clean up and rebuilding after losing 3/4 of its boardwalk and is hoping to have the project finished by June 23rd.
"Sea Girts boardwalks is a part of the character of the town, always has been," said governor Christie.
A deadline of a different sort looms in Atlantic City.
The governor has until Thursday to act on an internet gambling bill.
Gamblers would be able to set up accounts and play from their homes.
The governor was non committal when asked about it Wednesday. He vetoed a similar bill over legality concerns in 2011.
"My due dates tomorrow so my homework's due tomorrow," said Christie. "I have thoughts for and I have thoughts against and I have to reconcile those and I will when I have to turn my homework in."
"This could be the dawn of a new business model for Atlantic City to kind of come back," said Atlantic Club Casino and Hotel president and chief operating officer Michael Frawley.
Frawley says internet gambling's revenues would help the casinos bounce back from losses from competition in neighboring states.
"There was a report done by Wells Fargo and they were talking about in the next five years, $1.5 billion in added revenue for the state and $150 million in taxes," Frawley said.
He says he has a potential deal to sell the Atlantic Club to the world's largest online poker company. He doesn't know if the deal will fall apart if the bill is vetoed.
"It's really important for us. It's also important for the city," Frawley said.
The governor can sign the bill, veto it absolutely or conditionally or do nothing and it becomes law. His press officer says that's never happened.
