Online Gambling Being Considered As A Way To Provide Revenue To New Jersey
TRENTON (CBS) - Online gambling within New Jersey is being offered up again as a method to save two industries and provide badly needed revenue to the state.
The Garden State would be the first in the nation to allow residents to legally gamble on their home computer, but Governor Chris Christie vetoed an earlier plan, fearing it would take gaming outside the confines of Atlantic City via internet cafes and the like.
The bill's proponent, Union County State Senator Raymond Lesniak, says this new measure restricts activity to homes, no businesses.
"Our casinos would gain hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and we would take some of that revenue to supplement purses for the horse racing industry."
That's another idea Christie doesn't like. But with 13,000 jobs at stake at the tracks, Lesniak believes the help is needed. Besides, his plan would also provide $55 million a year to the state treasury.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio
