New Jersey must find new sources of funding for post Hurricane Sandy relief.
With Republican congressmen dillydallying on approval for $60 billion of assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey could do worse than use online gambling as an alternative source of funding.
Will NJ pass bill?
New Jersey's state legislature has already approved legislation that would see online casino games, including poker, opened up to residents of the Garden State. The matter is now in the hands of Gov. Chris Christie, who has until February 3 to decide whether to sign or veto the groundbreaking legislation.
Legalized online gambling would provide New Jersey with a much needed revenue increase, according to a 2012 report compiled for the state legislature. Although it admitted the uncertainty in predicting exact figures, there is no doubt that at the very least it would contribute some much-needed relief for the state hit hardest by the superstorm.
Moving ahead in NY
In neighboring New York lawmakers are already getting the point, with the state legislature expected to consider a gambling amendment to the state constitution this year. The amendment was on the agenda before Sandy hit New York City in late October, but the hurricane has given the impetus to move ahead.
As we have seen in the past two years, if President Obama and Congress fail to push through new federal gambling regulations, the states will take responsibility for the matter themselves - and thanks to Sandy, the northeastern states might be the surprise leaders in the online gambling charge.
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