In a primary risk to New Jersey's fledgling online gambling sector, two top U.S. senators introduced legislation Wednesday that would outlaw net wagering over the USA and snuff out what could possibly be a multibillion-dollar company for Atlantic City casinos.
The bill, which includes bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, would reimpose a longstanding interpretation of the federal Wire Act that held gaming on the web broken the law.
The Justice Department reversed course in 2011, heading Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey to legalize the practice, and patrons of the measure said the move was being considered by 10 more states.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, are sponsoring the measure.
"Now, due to the Obama Government's determination, almost any cell phone or computer can again develop into a video poker machine. It's just not correct."
Adelson has allocated substantial resources to quitting online gambling, which he's said by bringing gaming to the house will hurt the elderly, the poor along with the young.
Based On an article on the internet site of the Hill, a paper that covers Washington, lobbyists for the Sands helped compose the bill.
Reid's office didn't return a call seeking comment.
New Jersey's two Democratic U.S. senators, Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, said they'd fight passage of the measure, that they preserved would shove gambling back underground, where it can not be controlled.
"Blanket prohibition of net gaming will empower black market operators at the cost of accountable states like New Jersey, that have invested in developing a safe web gambling construction," Menendez said in a news release.
Silvia Alvarez, a spokeswoman for Booker, said New Jersey "behaved responsibly and invested in developing an organized, safe and controlled environment for internet gaming."
"Senator Booker opposes this legislation, since it might drive Internet gambling underground, where there aren't any protections for consumers and no measures to stop minors from taking part," she said.
Gov. Chris Christie signed laws legalizing online gambling a year ago, and by November, several of Atlantic City's casinos had started taking wagers on the internet.
The enterprise got off to rocky beginning, with prevalent charging dilemmas and difficulties with technology designed to ensure players were within the state's boundaries.
The casinos took in $27.2 million from on-line gaming in the ending of November through February, way less than Christie had anticipated. His first budget proposal last year expected about $1.2 billion in sales by this July.
Nevertheless, analysts say online gambling may well grow right into an important revenue flow for Atlantic City's 11 casinos, that have been fighting for many years amid growing rivalry in nearby states.
Christie's office failed to react to your request for comment Wednesday. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D Union), online gambling's main patron in the Legislature, recognized the bill presented a risk to internet wagering.
"I'd presume our congressional delegation would quit that or, in the minimum, grandpa in New Jersey," Lesniak said. "Even that -- a prohibition in other states -- would limit our ability to (sign deals) with them to get added earnings for New Jersey and Atlantic City casinos."
The bill, which includes bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, would reimpose a longstanding interpretation of the federal Wire Act that held gaming on the web broken the law.
The Justice Department reversed course in 2011, heading Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey to legalize the practice, and patrons of the measure said the move was being considered by 10 more states.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, are sponsoring the measure.
"Now, due to the Obama Government's determination, almost any cell phone or computer can again develop into a video poker machine. It's just not correct."
Adelson has allocated substantial resources to quitting online gambling, which he's said by bringing gaming to the house will hurt the elderly, the poor along with the young.
Based On an article on the internet site of the Hill, a paper that covers Washington, lobbyists for the Sands helped compose the bill.
Reid's office didn't return a call seeking comment.
New Jersey's two Democratic U.S. senators, Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, said they'd fight passage of the measure, that they preserved would shove gambling back underground, where it can not be controlled.
"Blanket prohibition of net gaming will empower black market operators at the cost of accountable states like New Jersey, that have invested in developing a safe web gambling construction," Menendez said in a news release.
Silvia Alvarez, a spokeswoman for Booker, said New Jersey "behaved responsibly and invested in developing an organized, safe and controlled environment for internet gaming."
"Senator Booker opposes this legislation, since it might drive Internet gambling underground, where there aren't any protections for consumers and no measures to stop minors from taking part," she said.
Gov. Chris Christie signed laws legalizing online gambling a year ago, and by November, several of Atlantic City's casinos had started taking wagers on the internet.
The enterprise got off to rocky beginning, with prevalent charging dilemmas and difficulties with technology designed to ensure players were within the state's boundaries.
The casinos took in $27.2 million from on-line gaming in the ending of November through February, way less than Christie had anticipated. His first budget proposal last year expected about $1.2 billion in sales by this July.
Nevertheless, analysts say online gambling may well grow right into an important revenue flow for Atlantic City's 11 casinos, that have been fighting for many years amid growing rivalry in nearby states.
Christie's office failed to react to your request for comment Wednesday. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D Union), online gambling's main patron in the Legislature, recognized the bill presented a risk to internet wagering.
"I'd presume our congressional delegation would quit that or, in the minimum, grandpa in New Jersey," Lesniak said. "Even that -- a prohibition in other states -- would limit our ability to (sign deals) with them to get added earnings for New Jersey and Atlantic City casinos."