New Jersey Online Poker
This is potentially HUGE news for any poker player in the NYC or New Jersey area. It is looking like New Jersey is ready to become the second state to legalize intra-state online poker. This means that you would be able to play poker in New Jersey through state regulated online poker sites. You may even be able to get interstate liquidity, meaning that states like New Jersey, Delaware (which has already legalized online poker) and Nevada (which seems very close to legalizing online poker), could band together and let you play poker against people within New Jersey and with players from other states with legal online poker.
Now, let’s be clear, we have always taken the common position that online poker is legal to play (in New York / New Jersey at least), but the federal government and most states have taken the view that it may not be legal to operate an online poker site… until now.
So, what happened? Well, on Monday December 17, 2012 the New Jersey Assembly passed Bill A2578 48-24, which would allow for legal online poker in New Jersey. Now the State Senate has to review the bill, then it will be up to Governor Chris Christie to sign.
This is potentially huge news for poker enthusiasts and comes on the heals of news that PokerStars, the worlds largest poker room, is in advance talks to purchase an Atlantic City Casino, which would give the Isle of Man based company a huge toehold in the United States.
I for one might have to reconsider my choice of residence of this bill passes and I can just move across the river and legally play online poker in NJ!