- Four New Jersey state senators have authored a letter to Governor Chris Christie, asking him to act rapidly in signing online gambling legislation into law.
- The senators cite financial distress, in part caused by Hurricane Sandy, as a reason to act soon.
- The letter states, “We urge you to sign the legislation immediately. New Jersey cannot afford to miss another opportunity to lead on this front.”
- Christie has until February 3 to veto the bill.
Four New Jersey state senators have authored a letter to Governor Chris Christie, asking him to act rapidly in signing a measure into law that would add New Jersey to the growing ranks of states that have formally authorized various forms of online gambling.
Online poker is among the gambling forms approved under the final version of S1565, which sailed through the New Jersey State Senate last week on a 33-3 vote.
As with an earlier, 2011 gambling bill, the measure now faces its final hurdle in the form of a signature by Christie. In 2011 the Governor vetoed an online gambling bill. A similar fate is a possibility for S1565, though both political and economic factors are now more strongly behind the measure.
Christie has 45 days from the final passage of the bill by state legislators to veto the measure. If he does not act by the February 3 deadline, the bill will become law. Of course, the bill would also become law should Christie choose to sign the bill before then.
The letter of support, signed by NJ State Senate President Steve Sweeney, bill co-sponsor Ray Lesniak, and Senators Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew, urged a rapid signing, noting, “[W]e cannot afford to wait any longer for implementation.”
The letter also wasted no time in invoking the economic carnage caused by Hurricane Sandy as an added reason for prompt signing.
The letter’s authors also cited an American Gaming Association study asserting that in 2010, online gambling was a $30 billion industry globally, with the US accounting for less than 15% of that total. “New Jersey must act quickly to take advantage of the market demand,” wrote the senators, “as we have the potential to realize hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue from this program.”
The early-to-market push remained the letter’s primary focus, with the senators wrapping up their appeal with the following: “We urge you to sign the legislation immediately. New Jersey cannot afford to miss another opportunity to lead on this front.”