NJ eyes extending robust online bet market another 10 years

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Mindful that its thriving internet gambling market is one of the brightest spots in New Jersey's uneven gambling landscape, the state's lawmakers are moving to extend authorization for online bets for another 10 years.

A state Assembly committee held a hearing Thursday to consider extending the law authorizing internet gambling through 2033, and advanced the measure to the next step in the legislative process. It still requires additional rounds of approval before going to Gov. Phil Murphy for his signature.

“Internet gaming has proven to be an integral part of gaming in New Jersey,” said Assemblyman Don Guardian, a former mayor of Atlantic City. “It's one of the reasons we still have casinos in New Jersey.”

Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, a former Atlantic City casino executive, noted that online gambling provided a crucial revenue stream for the casinos while they were closed for 3 1/2 months in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic. Even when the casinos reopened later that year, some customers were wary of coming to a casino in person and opted to gamble online.