TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A bill that would allow gamblers at New Jersey casinos and race tracks to place bets online is moving through the state legislature.
The bill approved Thursday by the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee would create Internet portals run by the casinos, The Press of Atlantic City reported. Only New Jersey residents would be allowed to use them.
State Sen. Ray Lesniak, a Democrat, said he expects online gambling to generate about $37 million in additional revenue every year for the Casino Redevelopment Authority. Some of the money would be diverted to the New Jersey Racing Commission.
The Casino Control Commission Friday reported a drop in revenue from Atlantic City casinos in November for the 27th consecutive month. Total revenue for the 11 casinos was down $22 million, or 12.5 percent, from November 2009 to $261.7 million.
Atlantic City, which once had the only legal U.S. casinos outside of Nevada, has been hurt by competition from the two large Indian casinos in Connecticut as well as by the long-running economic slump.
