- Tuesday affirmative vote and subsequent signing from Governor considered a formality.
- No real hurdles remain before online gambling is signed into law.
New Jersey lawmakers will vote this week on Governor Chris Christie’s proposed changes to an online gambling bill that will legalize and regulate poker and other forms of gambling online.
Earlier this month, Christie vetoed an online gaming bill, but said he would would sign it into law with minor amendments.
Christie suggested taxing operators at 15 percent, as opposed to the 10 percent in the original bill, along with funding to prevent excessive gambling and requisite 10-year renewal of the law.
“Now is the time for our State to move forward, again leading the way for the nation, by becoming one of the first States to permit Internet gaming,” he said in a statement after the veto.
The State Senate and Assembly are expected to vote on the governor’s changes Tuesday. Expected to pass rather swiftly, the new bill would then be sent back to Christie to sign.
Last week, Nevada fast-tracked a law to legalize online poker and allow for interstate agreements where online gaming is also legal.
Delaware also expects to launch online poker later this year.
With possible federal legislation by the wayside, Nevada and New Jersey are jockeying to become the US hub of the newly regulated industry.
