more in the aftermath of what appears to be the pathway to online gaming being offered in NJ by the end of 2013:
from spokesman Eric Hollreiser of The Rational Group, the PokerStars parent company that has an application in to purchase the Atlantic Club casino:
?We welcome the definitive statements made today by Governor Christie in seeking to place New Jersey at the forefront of internet gaming in the United States. We are hopeful that the state legislature will work quickly to finalize the legislation in accordance with the important revisions and additions to this bill set out in the Governor?s statement. We have consistently said that this bill will drive economic development and job creation in New Jersey and are committed to play our part in that process. The distinctive environment that I-Gaming can create for New Jersey is unprecedented and we are pleased that Governor Christie sees the significant benefits of mixing online and offline gaming.
Our agreement to acquire The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel is subject to completion and we look forward to working with the relevant parties, including the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement to finalize that process.
Hollreiser concludes: ?The most important thing, though, is that all parties work collaboratively to bring this bill back for signature quickly so that Atlantic City and New Jersey can begin to benefit from this proven global model for successful gaming.?
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more from Donald Weinbaum, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ. Here was the biggest item of interest to me: ?This is the first time that casinos in NJ have been required to pay anything toward problem gambling services. Few people realize that not one dollar of casino revenues has ever gone toward helping those who are affected and that most NJ casinos do not voluntarily contribute toward such programs.?
?Although the Council neither supports nor opposes gambling legislation, we share the Governor?s concern about the potential impact of on-line gambling. It is clear that many residents of New Jersey could be at risk of developing addictions if Internet and mobile gambling is authorized. At present, we have 350,000 problem and compulsive gamblers in NJ, and that number would certainly increase with Internet gambling.
? Governor Christie has been a vocal advocate in the past for expanding addiction treatment services in NJ. We are glad that he understands that for many individuals, gambling can be as addictive as drugs and alcohol and the consequences just as devastating. The American Psychiatric Association will soon be modifying its diagnostic manual to include Gambling Disorder as its first non-substance addiction, and our Council has been working to increase awareness among both professionals and the general public.
? The additional funding proposed by the Governor is very much needed, both to address existing gaps in treatment, prevention and early intervention services across NJ, and to respond to increases in the incidence of addiction associated with legalization of on-line gambling.
? As the Council has noted previously, on-line gambling brings additional risks for persons who are vulnerable to addiction. It?s easy to play on-line, and the fact that you can gamble alone without any controls doesn?t help. NJ?s bill goes beyond what has been proposed elsewhere, so the impact is likely to be proportionately greater.
? Actually, this bill is significant in another way: This is the first time that casinos in NJ have been required to pay anything toward problem gambling services. Few people realize that not one dollar of casino revenues has ever gone toward helping those who are affected and that most NJ casinos do not voluntarily contribute toward such programs. So this bill, with the change proposed by the Governor, is a big step forward in that regard. There are major gaps in treatment services across the state, and a critical need for prevention and early intervention services. And that?s before legalized internet gambling gets started.
? For many at-risk and problem gamblers, legal Internet gambling could be the straw that breaks the camel?s back, the thing that pushes them over the edge into a full-blown addiction. Some players are going to be caught up in it. I worry about the moms, the grandparents, the working people who now won?t have to make a trip to Atlantic City or even PA. How many of them are going to lose their savings, their houses, and their livelihoods in order to feed their gambling addiction?
? The Council is also concerned about marketing to young adults. They are savvy and comfortable with online technology, but this group has twice the risk of developing problems. 4-8 % of them can be expected to cross the line into a gambling addiction, vs. 2%-5% for other age groups. And, there is the related issue of how to keep out under-age gamblers, which may be more difficult than many believe.
? That?s why it is critical that we have strong regulatory oversight for this process, if and when it is implemented. Casinos will need to develop additional internal controls to make sure that self-excluded, under-age and prohibited persons are not allowed to gamble, and that the 1-800-GAMBLER number and links to help are included in every on-line game.?
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The bipartisan backing for the changes to the bill is further reflected here with comments from Assemblyman John Amodeo and state Senator Jeff Van Drew.
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