New Jersey casinos and their online technology partners were performing last-minute betting tests Tuesday, and a pro-gambling state senator tried to rally opposition to Las Vegas billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson’s plan to try to ban online gambling anywhere in the United States.
Sen. Ray Lesniak, who sponsored the law that legalized Internet gambling in New Jersey and said he’ll unveil a proposed expansion on Thursday, said that Adelson’s campaign would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, billions in revenue to Atlantic City’s casinos and hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax revenue.
“We already have given the legal authority for Internet gaming in New Jersey, and state regulators have done a good job in reviewing and authorizing licenses for online gaming businesses,” Lesniak said.
“Imposing a federal ban on Internet gambling for New Jersey would be an economic catastrophe.”
Last week, the Washington Post reported that Adelson is preparing a public campaign to portray online gambling as a danger to children, the poor and others who could be exploited by easy access to Internet betting.
In January, Adelson plans to launch an advocacy group, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling.