New Jersey Eyes International Online Gaming Partnerships

New Jersey Senator creates new legislation to see the state develop partnerships with international operators.

New Jersey has easily become the state to beat when it comes to online gaming in the United States. New Jersey offers online casino and poker gaming, options that are easily earning the state millions in revenues each month. Players in the state have access to quality gaming and continue to enjoy promotions as well as tournaments and their favorite games. Players may soon have even more to enjoy if a new law goes into effect. Senator Raymond Lesniak introduced S3536 on the last day of November, a piece of legislation that would open up the state to pooling players with international online gaming sites.

S3536

Senator Raymond Lesniak has long been a driving force behind gambling in the state, including being involved in online poker and casino gaming as well as the more recent sports betting efforts. With the new bill, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement would be allowed to permit operators to run online gaming equipment in jurisdictions rather than in Atlantic City. If the legislation were to pass into law, New Jersey could then begin to partner with jurisdictions located outside the US.

Since online gambling came to pass in New Jersey, regulators have wanted to partner with international gaming operators. When it comes to other countries, such as the UK, online gambling has long been allowed and celebrated. UK operators as well as operators in other jurisdictions would be able to help the gaming industry of New Jersey thrive even further due to experience and wisdom.

Since iGaming began in the state, international operators have shied away from offering services in the US as they would have to move servers to Atlantic City. This can be an expense that companies are not able or willing to pay. With the new bill, this restriction would no longer be in place, allowing companies to operate in NJ without having to move servers.

A Work in Progress

The bill presented by the Senator has been in the works for some time. Back in the late summer, Lesniak had mentioned his intent to introduce such legislation. It took some time to create and now will need to be approved quickly. The Senator has very little time to get others on board to see the legislation become law.

Lesniak is actually retiring after his term ends, so the state only has until January 9^th to pass the measure. The Division of Gaming Enforcement does support the bill and the subject is not controversial, so we could see the bill pass easily. Only time will tell what will happen in regards to opening up the industry to international entities.

Because Lesniak will be leaving his position as Senator, it would be nice to see him leave with an addition to his pro-gaming history. Lesniak has done well to push for measures that will bring about economic growth as well as strengthen the gaming industry of the state, be it online as well as in land-based venues.

Online gaming has actually helped the land based venues of Atlantic City thrive and the state is only continuing to see success. On top of this legislation, a new bill was added by Congressman Frank Pallone to allow states in the US to legalize sports betting if they so choose. Legislators in New Jersey, such as Pallone and Lesniak, are paving the way for online gaming to be successful within the United States.