New Jersey has now become authorized for online poker and online gambling after the US legislature passed the bill. On Tuesday, NJ became the 3rd state in The US to authorize online poker after Chris Christie signed the bill to license and regulate online poker. After Nevada and Delaware, New Jersey is now the third state to legalize online poker.
Christie signed the bill after a long wait and made huge changes: increasing the tax on gross revenues from 10 to 15 percent, raising the funds earmarked for compulsive gambling programs from $150,000 to $250,000 a year and also adding a time limit of 10 years for the authorization of online gambling unless re-established by law.
State Sen. Ray Lesniak showed his concern by mentioning that a lot of work has to be done in testing the software and screening applicants. He also mentioned the less time taken by Governor in signing and legislature’s approving the bill indicates that they also wanted the bill to be passed.
“I think the fall is a somewhat aggressive timetable but certainly doable, particularly since we put our stamp of approval on this so quickly,” Lesniak said.
The return of Pokerstars to US is expected by the law, as its parent company is waiting for state regulatory approval to buy the Atlantic Club Hotel Casino, as it’s struggling and likely to get closed.