Online Casino Games Legislation in NJ Will Happen Very Soon

It has just been confirmed that on May 31, the New Jersey State Senate will be voting on online casino games legislation. The bill’s sponsor, Raymond Lesniak had hoped that it would happen sooner, but is anxiously awaiting the results. Casino games online supporters in the State were looking to open the market to online poker by September 1, but now believe that it will occur at some point later in the fall.

Lesniak was quoted as saying in early March that he anticipated the bill to go through both houses in mid-April. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved the online casino games legislation on April 3. Lesniak believes that the delay to advance the legislation occurred because many of his colleagues in the legislature will be on vacation in April.

Lesniak commented, "We have to make sure we have all the Democratic votes there, so we have to schedule around people's vacations. Things like this happen. A year ago, the governor vetoed the first attempt. This time, it looks like we're going to reach the finish line. It's just taking longer than I hoped for."

Moving online casino games legislation forward and developing top rated online casinos in New Jersey has been a lengthily process. Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a similar online gambling bill last year, however it has since been amended to address the Governor’s concerns, mainly that commercial establishments outside Atlantic City could become centers for online gambling.

Lesniak commented, "I'm extremely confident. The casinos really need it. They want it. Really, it's the only way some of them will survive."