The battle to legalize online gambling
in the U.S. is moving to the state level as legislators
try to push through state laws that could circumvent
a federal ban on Internet gambling.
The
bill would make New Jersey the first state to sanction
online gambling.
Regardless
of Mr. Christie's decision, gambling experts say momentum
is growing behind states' efforts to legalize online
gambling for their own residents, known as intrastate
gambling. Last week, Iowa lawmakers introduced a bill
to legalize online poker, and California and Florida
are among other states considering similar bills.
Once
one state passes an online-gambling law, "you
will see other states go 'aha.' It will spread very
rapidly," said Anthony Cabot, an expert in Internet
gambling law
The
debates over online gambling come as states scramble
to balance their budgets in the face of yawning deficits.
Proponents
argue the state would benefit. "Revenue is leaving
the state to offshore Internet gaming and we should
recapture those revenues for New Jersey and create
jobs in New Jersey," said Raymond Lesniak, a
state senator, who argued the state could become a
hub for the industry if the state is the first to
legalize Internet gambling.
