New Jersey is steaming ahead on its plans to license online casinos, without reference to if or when federal action takes place.

While the government struggles to seek out the desire to inspect any of several bills suggesting the regulation of Internet gambling, New Jersey is thinking about all possible options to go back the state to gaming prominence, including allowing online casinos. Internet casino operators say Atlantic City could be among their most preferred US destinations in the event that they could legally base there.

State Senator Ray Lesniak has included provisions for online gambling in his bill looking to permit sports betting in New Jersey. Under the terms of the measure, casinos granted licenses in New Jersey could be in a position to run online casinos servicing New Jersey residents.

According to a report by Atlantic City Weekly, online gaming officials at a public hearing at the Lesniak act said they'd prefer a base like Atlantic City, because the stringent regulatory environment would help communicate the security of online wagering to the public.

“The thrust of the bill is to unite the brick and mortar existing licensees with online gaming interests; to enroll in them together to allow them to complement each other," said a brand new Jersey lobbyist at this week's Global iGaming Convention to the Casino City Times. “We're going to be the primary state within the nation to have this bill passed. I'm confident in that.”

“The leading opposition to these bills in New Jersey is Harrah's," says iMEGA Chairman Joe Brennan, Jr. "Harrah's has said that they like a federal solution and so they have gone all in at the federal solution. Wel,l we at iMEGA believe that we will be able to walk and chew gum on the same time.

Published on May 13, 2010 by K.C.Carmichael

Read More... [Source: Harrahs Casino News]