A resolution introduced in the New Jersey legislature urges the Trump administration to oppose any measure that would prohibit states from conducting internet gambling.
Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo says comments from Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, prompted him to seek clarification about what the administration might do.
“We heard some things, rumblings, with Mr. Sessions at the hearings that he’s going to revisit the Wire Act and see what’s going on with internet gaming. That’s a $200 million industry right now for Atlantic City and New Jersey for that matter. It means tax dollars and we want to make sure that we can continue to do internet gaming.”
Mazzeo believes online wagering will help Atlantic City’s gaming revenue rebound.
“We’re surviving down there. We’re on an uptick as far as gaming revenue dollars. $197 million of it is from internet gaming, and we want to make sure that we still stay in it. By the way the tax revenue is a little bit stronger, it’s 15 percent for internet gaming and it’s only 9.5 percent if you come in the house, brick and mortar.”
Mazzeo says internet gambling is attracting millennials who use their smartphones to place their bets and don’t want to travel to casinos.