January Date Set for New Jersey Online Gambling Bill

December 21, 2010 | News Category: Gaming Law

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Even though there have been some delays with the New Jersey online gambling bill, number S 490, things are moving forward and a January 2011 date has been set on which the bill will be presented to the Assembly.

The date that the bill will be presented is January 6th, which is not so far away, seeing as we are already more than half way through December. The date could not have been set much earlier because of the upcoming holiday season, and other commitments that had already been undertaken by the committees.

The reason for the delay in the progress of the New Jersey online gambling bill are simply because of some slight changes that have been made to the bill itself, not because there were any problems with the bill being passed. The changes that were made were minor changes to the bill, and because the changes were regarding taxation, the rules in New Jersey are such that the bill has to, once again, go through the formal process of being passed by the Assembly Budget Committee.

Senator Ray Lesniak explained why the bill has been held up. He said: "It's our rules. If it has a tax in there, it goes there. There was always a tax on Internet gaming, just like there is on any gaming, so therefore it always had to go through the Budget Committee process."

The bill will be voted on a second time by the same people who voted it though the first time. Once it passes through the Assembly Budget Committee, it will then go to the Assembly, where it will be presented to the Assembly, after which there will be a chance for debate, and then a vote.

Senator Ray Lesniak has said that he is trying to make sure that the Budget Committee hearing will take place before the January 6th date, which would make the passage of the bill quicker, allowing it to be voted on in the Assembly on the proposed date, without any further delays. After the bill is voted through the Assembly, which is looking quite likely to happen at this time, it can then move towards the final steps that would turn the proposed bill into New Jersey state law.

All that is left to turn the online gambling bill, S 490 into law after it passes through the Assembly, is for the bill to be presented to Governor Chris Christie, the New Jersey state governor, for approval. Once Governor Christie approves the online gambling bill, and places his signature on it, the bill will then be law in the state of New Jersey.