New Jersey Online Gambling Law
Atlantic City is typically thought of as the end all and be all of gambling in New Jersey. However, historically, that has not been the case. Rather, state residents had been gambling since the late 19th century in Monmouth Park – the horse races. Although gambling was essentially outlawed by the turn of the century in great part by a Progressive Era hell-bent on prohibition of many so-called vices, it did return toward the end of the 20th century. The state’s lottery was introduced in 1970. Currently, the lottery is one of the most famous in both the country as well as the world. The state benefits financially from it as well as from its commercial casinos. New Jersey has many gambling options available for residents and visitors alike including the following: the lottery, casinos (with slot machines, card games, etc.), pari-mutuel, charitable gambling, and social gambling.
Aside from regulated gambling, pursuant to Section 2A:40-1, it is illegal to make any wagers, bets or stakes made to depend upon any race or game, or upon any gaming by lot or chance, or upon any lot, chance, casualty or unknown or contingent event, shall be unlawful.” New Jersey laws and penalties concerning illegal gambling primarily target operators as opposed to players. As far as the state is concerned, it can lose millions or more in tax revenue if it does not prosecute and recoup funds from illegal operators whereas there is not much, if anything, to be gained from players. Illegal operation is thus a serious crime as is the promotion of gambling, which is defined as being involved in acquiring “proceeds” of gambling by being an integral part of (illegal) gambling operations. Such an offense can be charged as a felony, punishable with fines and incarceration for more than a year in jail.
Online Gambling
Super Bowl LII gambling is not against the law in NJ as the state is a huge proponent of sports betting. New Jersey may eventually have their own land-based and online sportsbooks, but for now you can use legal NJ sports betting sites that are based offshore. Per the law, each eligible entity (nine casinos, with Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort Casino, and four racetracks) can operate up to three sports betting brands. At full capacity, that works out to 39 sportsbooks, which might be overkill for the New Jersey market. Dec 03, 2013 New Jersey is very strict about gambling laws as they relate to online and offline gambling. The state recently enacted a law that legalizes online gambling at state-operated online gambling sites. These websites began operating at the end of November of 2013.
Online gambling is now fully legal per New Jersey statutes and has been operating online since November 26, 2013. Anyone in the state of New Jersey can visit the state regulated gambling sites and gamble for real money. New Jersey is the first state to offer full online gambling which includes casino games, not just poker games like in Nevada.
Recent Developments
2013 saw a number of gambling related developments in the state, principally between Governor Chris Christie and the state legislature. There was agreement to look into online gambling and charged the Division of Gaming Enforcement with drafting policy regarding online gambling. So far, it appears as though only land based casinos will be permitted to offer online gambling, so there has been a race for current operators to petition the State for such permission. Some casinos have been granted permission, however, others have not. Firm plans and policy is expected by the end of 2014, although full implementation could take much longer. The NJ online gambling revenue for January 2013 was $7.4 million.
Casinos in New Jersey
There are a number of casinos in New Jersey. They include the following: Bally’s Atlantic City, The Borgata, Caesar’s Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Harrah’s Atlantic City, Resorts Casino Hotel, Revel Atlantic City, Snowboat Atlantic City, Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and Trump Taj Mahal.
———-
Sources/References
- Jones, S. (2014). Toms River, Jersey City and Cherry Hill residents are gambling online the most. Retrieved from NJ.com
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Retrieved from DGE
- Zernike, K. (2013, November 26). New Jersey Now Allows Gambling via Internet. Retrieved from New York Times
There has been quite a bit of news about gambling laws in the United States over the past few years. With the advent of Online Casinos it was only a matter of time before countries all over the world had to review their policies.
Especially as the online gaming industry pulls in billions of dollars in revenue each year.
A quick guide to New Jerseys online gambling laws
New Jersey is one of the very few states that has always been a bit more lenient with their gambling laws. It is, in fact, the site of the first ever casino resorts in the well-known Atlantic City and home to the most slot machines per square foot of licensed casino space according to www.newjerseyslots.com who examines the industry solely within the state of NJ.
New Jersey was the second state in America to legalize gambling
As a means to generate a revenue fund for the disabled and aged, New Jersey authorized the opening of brick and mortar casinos.
Gambling was legalized in New Jersey in 1976 with Atlantic City opening the first casino in the State. Soon after it opened its doors another 16 casinos were opened, most of them being in Atlantic City as well.
Casino based racism
A case some years back involving one of Donald Trump’s casinos set an example to others when it was fined $200 000 for allegedly keeping its black staff away from one of its patrons.
Not wanting to lose high roller Robert LiButti’s business, Trump Plaza kept its black staff off the floor and out of view while LiButti was in the casino.
LiButti was known for his public beratement of both women and blacks. He did not mince his words and did not care how foul his language was. Court documents revealed his lewd obscene references made to women and the horrific racist slurs he loved to throw about.
LiButti was known to have been connected to John Gotti a well-known Mob boss and as such was banned from many casinos in New Jersey. Trump denied ever knowing LiButti and did not know what he looked like.
This was refuted by LiButti’s daughter who exclaimed that Trump had lied about his relationship with her father.
Trump has had a long history of going up against the Native American tribal casinos. Some of the current casino laws could actually be assumed as quite racist, based on the fact that there are not many casinos owned by Native Americans outside of tribal lands.
There are a few that are managed and or operated by various Native American Casino Groups but not owned.
There are many instances where organized crime has a direct link to illegal gambling. Even some legal casinos have alleged links to organized crime syndicates. Because most of these syndicates tend to be run by minority groups it brings about racial tension.
Gambling is also one of the most profitable industries around, as well as being highly addictive.
New Jersey Online Sports Betting
Just like street drugs where there is high profit to be made it is going to bring in the gangs, mobs and greedy elements. As such, the government increases regulations on the industry to try and gain more control to flush out crime.
But, as Native American casinos are sovereign nations they are restricted in their governance.
New Jersey Online Gambling Law
As the US government can regulate gambling on tribal land there is not much they can do about organized crime. In order to get some sort of order in these casinos, the FBI and NIGC teamed up to form a Workgroup whose main purpose is to combat the crime and corruption in these casinos.