ASSEMBLY SENIOR ISSUES, TOURISM AND GAMING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2701

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 9, 1997

      The Assembly Senior Issues, Tourism and Gaming Committee reports favorably Assembly, No. 2701.

      This bill prohibits gambling aboard vessels that embark and disembark from any point within New Jersey. Federal law permits gambling cruises, but also specifically allows a State to pass legislation outlawing "cruises to nowhere," which operate for the purpose of conducting offshore gambling activities.

      Under the bill, a person is guilty of shipboard gambling when (1) on a vessel that embarks from any point within New Jersey and disembarks at the same or another point within New Jersey, the person knowingly causes or permits any prohibited gambling activity; or (2) the person manages, supervises, controls, operates or owns any such vessel and knowingly causes or permits any prohibited gambling activity. A passenger who participates in prohibited gambling activity on such vessels is not engaged in shipboard gambling as defined under the bill. A person guilty of shipboard gambling is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The bill does not apply to gambling conducted on United States-flagged or foreign-flagged vessels during travel from a foreign nation, another state, or a United States possession up to the point of first entry into New Jersey waters.