7/29/2019 Legalizing Internet Poker in New Jersey is Good Public Policy

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Legalizing Internet Poker in New Jersey is Good Public Policy

Internet Poker is a fast-growing, global industry

The U.S. represents the largest percentage of Internet poker players worldwide.

As worldwide popularity of online poker continues to grow, more countries areseeking to regulate it.

Within the U.S., states are quickly seeking to benefit from a regulated onlinegambling industry. Nevada and Delaware have already passed legislation andmore states are recognizing the benefits and proposing their own intrastate lawsincluding, California, Florida and Iowa.

The Time is Now to Protect the Personal Freedoms of New Jersey Residents

Since April 15, 2011, when the Department of Justice shut down the three majorInternet poker companies providing play in the U.S., thousands of New Jerseyresidents and millions of Americans have been unable to play the game of pokeronline.

The PPA has over 20,000 members who reside in New Jersey, many of whomhave sent letters, placed phone calls and sent tweets to the Governor urging hissupport of a fair, regulated environment to play online poker in the state.

In an age where the Internet has become such an integral part of our daily lives,we must uphold the personal freedoms of New Jersey residents to play the gamethey enjoy in any format they prefer.

The law will provide significant economic benefits for the State As recently reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Atlantic

City's collective casino revenue fell 8 percent in 2012, marking the sixth straightannual decline.

According to a 2010 study by Econsult, a regulated online gambling market couldequate to anywhere between $210 million and $250 million in added grossrevenue for the state. The analysis also estimated that the industry could createup to 1,900 jobs.

The bill will directly increase Atlantic City’s revenue stream by requiring that allonline gaming operators be restricted to land-based casinos in Atlantic City and

casino operators would be required to obtain an online license (renewable on anannual basis) from regulators.

New Jersey is uniquely positioned to lead this innovative new industry and helprun the operations for other states that will want to adopt similar structuresmoving forward.

Regardless of the player’s location within the state, all wagering will be deemedto have taken place where the casino’s server is located.

7/29/2019 Legalizing Internet Poker in New Jersey is Good Public Policy

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The bill allows for both interstate compacts and taking play from players in othercountries as long as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement determinesthat such wagering is not inconsistent with federal law.

If the state serves as a national hub, it could gain an estimated 57,000 jobs andgenerate between $205 million and $472 million in total tax revenue.

The bill provides Internet safety standards that currently do not exist in NewJersey

Currently, all New Jersey residents, regardless of age or issues with problemgambling, can access unregulated and potentially fraudulent online pokerwebsites.

Under the current bill, age verification technology will ensure no residents underthe age of 21 will be permitted to establish an Internet gaming account.

Provisions will also be in place to protect problem gamblers including:

o Requiring that "If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and

wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER," or some comparable language mustbe displayed prominently at log on and log off times.

o Prohibiting licensed providers from sending gaming-related mail or emails

to an account holder while his or her account is suspended.

o Requiring a statement detailing losses to the physical mailing address of

players who have continually lost a sufficient amount of funding.

o Requiring each provider includes a mechanism to:

Limit the amount of money players lose within a specified period oftime and the length of time a player will be unable to participate in

gambling if they reach the established loss limit.

Limit the maximum amount of any single wager on any game.

Temporarily suspend a player’s account for any number of hours ordays.

Providers will be regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcementand any vendor offering age verification or payment processing services must belicensed for the division to offer a percentage of gaming revenue.

If an Internet gaming provider headquartered outside of the U.S. applies for alicense, the division of gaming enforcement will consult with the Department of

Justice prior to making a recommendation to the Casino Control commissionregarding the license.

The law also protects against Internet gambling cafes by ensuring only casinoslocated in Atlantic City will be permitted to conduct Internet wagering.