Submitted on Thu, 2010-02-04 10:24

A lot of people are asking whether existing online card rooms will be permitted to keep on operating in New Jersey since bills were introduced in the state a few weeks ago that will offer legal intrastate Internet poker and sports betting through Atlantic City casinos.

 

The answer is no, there is nothing in the bill that will prevent New Jersey residents from continuing to play at sites like Titan Poker and Winner Poker, since these are offshore entities, over which the state of New Jersey has no jurisdiction.

 

The bill, which was introduced by state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, will mean that only brick-and-mortar Atlantic City casinos will be considered for licensing. If it is successful in New Jersey, this could be the start of a movement to license and control Internet poker on the state level.

 

The sites that are being set up will be regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, previously put in place to oversee the activities of the casinos in Atlantic City.

 

Online poker has made strides in its fight with the U.S. government, and now Capitol Hill seems to be more interested in regulation than prohibition. There is much anticipation that 2010 will be poker's best year in terms of political progress.