T&E

 


P.L.2017, Joint Resolution No. 18, approved July 21, 2017

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 137

 

 


A Joint Resolution urging United States President Donald Trump, members of President Trump’s administration, and Congress to oppose measures and actions which would prohibit states from authorizing and conducting Internet gaming.

 

Whereas, Internet gaming was authorized by law in New Jersey in 2013 and has been lawfully implemented by several Atlantic City casinos in partnership with their Internet gaming affiliates under strict regulation and control by the State’s Division of Gaming Enforcement; and

Whereas, Following its legalization in Nevada and Delaware, New Jersey’s enactment and implementation of Internet gaming has begun to yield benefits for the State’s economy, generating employment opportunities for the State’s residents, and tax revenues for the State’s coffers, and contributing to the revival of Atlantic City as a gaming hub; and

Whereas, In 2016, Internet gaming in New Jersey generated about $198 million in casino win, resulting in approximately $29.5 million in gaming tax revenues for the State; and

Whereas, Recent federal measures, such as the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act” introduced in the 114th Congress, if pursued by the 115th Congress and supported by President Trump and his administration, would prohibit the transmission by wire communication of any bet or wager or of information assisting in the placement of any bet or wager, including Internet gaming; and

Whereas, In his confirmation hearing as nominee for United States Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions indicated his desire to revisit the federal Justice Department ruling that currently allows the states to authorize Internet gaming; and 

Whereas, A federal prohibition against Internet gaming would directly and negatively impact New Jersey by dismantling the investments that the State and the casinos have already made, taking away the economic and employment opportunities already realized by the State and its residents, and foreclosing the future potential of Internet gaming to generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue, create high-tech software jobs, and foster valuable business ventures for Atlantic City casinos; and

Whereas, The ability to conduct Internet gaming within each state under strict regulation and control by each state is fundamentally a matter of states’ rights, and eliminating New Jersey’s ability to continue to conduct Internet gaming would contradict the argument that states should be able to govern themselves; and

Whereas, Enactment and implementation of measures and taking of any actions that prohibit Internet gaming would be inimical to the interests of this State, which has been at the forefront of a well-regulated casino gaming industry since the 1970s and which recognizes the benefits of Internet gaming and the future potential thereof; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges United States President Donald Trump, President Trump’s administration, and Congress to oppose any federal measures and actions to prohibit the transmission by wire communication of any bet or wager or of information assisting in the placement of any bet or wager, including Internet gaming. A federal prohibition against Internet gaming would directly and negatively impact New Jersey by dismantling the investments that the State and Atlantic City casinos have already made to implement and regulate Internet gaming, taking away the economic and employment opportunities already realized by the State and its residents, and foreclosing the future potential of Internet gaming to generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue, create high-tech software jobs, and foster valuable business ventures for Atlantic City casinos in this State.

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to President of the United States Donald Trump, the Attorney General of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the House Majority Leader, the House Minority Leader, and to each member of Congress elected from this State.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution urges United States President Donald Trump, members of President Trump’s administration, and Congress to oppose any measures and actions that would prohibit states to conduct Internet gaming. Recent measures in Congress, if pursued by the new Congress and supported by the President and his administration, would prohibit the transmission by wire communication of any bet or wager or of information assisting in the placement of any bet or wager, including Internet gaming. In his confirmation hearing as nominee for United States Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions indicated his desire to revisit the federal Justice Department ruling that currently allows the states to authorize Internet gaming. These measures and actions would invalidate New Jersey’s implementation of Internet gaming, which the State authorized in 2013 to be conducted by Atlantic City casinos in partnership with their Internet gaming affiliates and under strict regulation and control by the State’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. A federal prohibition against Internet gaming would directly and negatively impact New Jersey by dismantling the investments that the State and Atlantic City casinos have already made to implement and regulate Internet gaming, taking away the economic and employment opportunities already realized by the State and its residents, and foreclosing the future potential of Internet gaming to generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue, create high-tech software jobs, and foster valuable business ventures for Atlantic City casinos in this State.

 

 

                                

 

     Urges United States President Trump, members of his administration, and Congress to oppose measures and actions to prohibit states from authorizing and conducting Internet gaming.