NJ Senate approves mobile gaming in casinos

Posted on June 29, 2012 by r.weston

Bill to allow gambling anywhere on casino grounds approved yesterday – heads to Governor Chris Christie (pictured) for final approval

A bill allowing Atlantic City casino customers to gamble on mobile devices away from the gaming floors was approved by the New Jersey Senate yesterday.

The Senate voted 37-1 in favour of bill S 1323, three days after its companion bill AB 2575 passed in a 77-0 vote with two abstentions in the state Assembly, with the the bill now headed to Governor Chris Christie’s desk to be signed into law.

Bill sponsor Senator Jim Whelan said: “Casino gaming is the lifeblood of South Jersey’s economy, and we have to be willing to adapt in order to survive. Handheld, mobile gaming devices have already been adopted in Las Vegas, and allow casinos the opportunity to extend the gaming floor to anywhere within their premises.

“By authorising New Jersey casinos to take advantage of this new technology, we’re putting Atlantic City’s casino industry on an even competitive field with our competitor to the West,” Whelan explained.

If the bill is approved by Christie, New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement would still have to first verify that the devices will not work outside of the casino property’s boundaries and gamblers would need to set up a mobile betting account with the casino.

The Senate initially approved S 1323 on 31 May, but had to vote yesterday on the amended measure passed in the Assembly. The bill was also approved by an Assembly committee on 21 May.

Earlier this month, Senator Raymond Lesniak’s egaming bill advanced through a New Jersey panel and progressed to a full floor vote in the Assembly and Senate, though the vote is unlikely to take place before September.

NJ Assembly approves mobile gaming in casinos

Posted on June 26, 2012 by r.weston

Bill to allow gambling anywhere on casino grounds approved yesterday – heads to Senate on Thursday

A bill allowing Atlantic City casino customers to gamble on mobile devices away from the gaming floors was approved by the New Jersey Assembly yesterday.

The amended AB 2575, sponsored by Assemblymen John Amodeo and Chris Brown, passed in a 77-0 vote with two abstentions, having been approved by an Assembly committee last month.

The Senate initially approved the accompanying SB 1323 on 31 May, but must now vote on the measure passed in the Assembly and this is scheduled to take place on Thursday.

If the bill is approved, New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement would still have to first verify that the devices will not work outside of the casino property’s boundaries and gamblers would need to set up a mobile betting account with the casino.

“There are so many enjoyable things to do at Atlantic City’s casinos and hotels, it just makes sense to allow guests to take their games along with them,” said Amodeo, adding: “We offer better scenery, better accommodations, better restaurants, and, soon, better gaming options, like hand held betting.”

“Wireless betting keeps the momentum going forward. It’s an exciting time for the resort,” Brown said.

Earlier this month, Senator Raymond Lesniak’s egaming bill advanced through a New Jersey panel and progressed to a full floor vote in the Assembly and Senate, but this is unlikely to occur until September.

NJ Assembly gives green light to mobile gambling in casinos

Posted on May 22, 2012 by t.washington

Bill to allow gambling anywhere on casino grounds approved by a state Assembly committee yesterday

A bill which would allow Atlantic City casino customers to gamble on mobile devices away from gaming floors has been approved by a state Assembly committee.

The bill would see guests able to play electronic gambling games on wireless handheld devices anywhere in the grounds of licensed Atlantic City hotels, such as by the swimming pool or in their rooms, although not from parking areas.

An amended version of AB 2575 was introduced by legislators in February to provide a boost to the city’s casinos – which have suffered huge declines in revenues in recent years – after being approached by a mobile gambling device manufacturer.

Assembly Appropriations Committee Chairman John Burzichelli said at yesterday’s hearing: “We see Atlantic City doing well in non-gaming areas [such as] the [hotel] rooms and the restaurants, and we hope the gaming picks up as well. The mobile devices are designed to be an amenity – I don’t think [the ability to bet on mobile devices is] going to be a big driver; it is just going to be another amenity that makes Atlantic City attractive [in order] to compete with Las Vegas, which already has them.”

Dave Schwartz, head of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Centre for Gaming Research, added that the bill would help “modernise the industry” and “stay ahead”.

Only two people testified against the bill at the hearing, both members of the Casino Revenue Fund Advisory Commission. They voiced concerns over the impact the law would have on casino revenue and therefore the contributions made to social programmes.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblymen John Amodeo and Chris A. Brown, progresses to a full Assembly vote.

“There are so many things to do at Atlantic City’s casinos and hotels, it just makes sense to allow guests to take their games along with them,” said Amodeo at the hearing. “Why not win a few hands of blackjack while relaxing at the pool?”

Full-scale online gambling has been inching closer to reality in New Jersey, following the state Assembly’s approval of Senator Lesniak’s egaming bill A2578 earlier this month.

It follows its companion bill S1565, which passed out of a Senate committee last month. Both bills will now progress to full floor votes in their respective chambers, and while no date has been set it, is likely to be before July’s recess.