So, this all goes back a year or so. Everyone remember last year when the FBI shut down four online poker rooms? You can read about it in the Latimes.com. But somehow with all the fuss around that, the Department of Justice took another look at the Wire Act of 1961, which everyone thought made online betting illegal in the US and decided that it only applied to sports betting. Suddenly states everywhere started looking at online gambling. Though not always in a positive light. Utah is an example of what’s been going on in conservative states since they actually passed a law in record time to outlaw online gambling.
But New Jersey has been the off again on again state when it comes to online gambling. Last year Governor Christie vetoed a bill that would have allowed online gambling to be run out of Atlantic City. After the DOJ’s ruling on the Wire Act, he sent signs that he was willing to sign the bill if certain technical issues were addressed. Now he’s once again sending signs that he may not sign the bill Break out the flip flops, it’s summer.
The speculation I’m seeing on http://news.google.ca/ is that the reasons behind his change of heart are purely political. Christie could be the VP candidate on a GOP Romney Presidential ticket. So he needs to stay in good with the GOP machine. And one of the big donors to the GOP is a Vegas casino owner who doesn’t like online gambling. So, is Christie hedging his bets? Will he hold off on any action and keep sending mixed signals until he finds out if he’s on the ticket? Will he do his party a favor and keep a donor happy as Atlantic City continues to struggle? I don’t know. But I’m watching the news.
