|
 Gambling911's Jenny Woo recently sat down with New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak to discuss legislation which promises to legalize online gambling for its nearly 9 million residents. The interview was pretty lengthy and covered a wide range of topics from federal laws that could interfere with legislation to Governor Christie's opposition to what legislation could mean to the state's citizens.
Here is a look at just a few of the most intriguing questions raised by Ms. Woo and Lesniak's answers to them: JENNY: Jumping over to H.R. 2267, Barney Frank's bill. How will legalized online gambling on the state level coincide with legalized online gambling at the federal level should Barney Frank's bill pass in the Senate and the House?
LESNIAK: We want to go ahead regardless of what they do in Congress or actually in spite of what they do in Congress because Barney Frank's bill would limit states opportunity to tax to six percent and my bill for New Jersey had the twenty percent "vig" on it if you will for the state. So it really would limit New Jersey and other states ability to get revenues from Internet gaming. We're ready to go it alone and I think we're going to. I actually don't think the federal bill will ever pass but if it does I'm sure we'll opt out and we'll be up and operational before that ever does as well.
JENNY: The federal legislation states that businesses currently catering to US citizens will not be able to obtain licenses. Will a similar structure be set up in the state of New Jersey? I am sure you are aware that online gambling sites continue to take business from New Jersey citizens.
LESNIAK: Oh you bet they do! We already have a very good Casino Control Commission licensing system already in place that's worked very well in licensing casinos in Atlantic City. I would expect that the same standards of integrity would be applied for folks applying for an Internet Gaming License in New Jersey.
JENNY: The US Attorney's Office and other law enforcement agencies have aggressively gone after payment processors in the past two years for dealing with companies they say are operating illegally. How does New Jersey overcome this obstacle? For instance, if XYZ sportsbook gets licensed in New Jersey, won't payment processors fear doing business with XYZ sportsbook out of fear they too will be prosecuted?
LESNIAK: No, because the Justice Department doesn't have any authority over Internet Gaming that is exclusively intrastate. The very sophisticated software available is to ensure that only New Jersey residents will be able to gamble and that the signal that the Internet site be located in New Jersey as well and that precludes any federal authority from intervening.
JENNY: Well once these businesses can legally set up in New Jersey would it be your advice to only land and depart from Newark Airport? How does one overcome the very real possibility that other states consider your "licensees" criminals?
LESNIAK: Again, I'm not going to give people legal advice. (Haha) My advice is that if you can't meet the standards of integrity that have been well established under New Jersey Casino Control Commission Regulations then don't even apply for a license.
With so many different laws in place, it could well be tricky for companies to do business in New Jersey even if they pass all the proper legislation. Lesniak spoke at leisure about his feelings regarding federal legislation and why it probably won't work as well as the steps that need to be taken in order to overcome Governor Christie's fierce opposition to online gambling. Those who are interested, can read the entire interview online at http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/senator-raymond-lesniak-talks-legalized-online-gambling-new-jersey-112310.html
As always stay tuned to Casinofan for more news and updates.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
