New Jersey To Start Internet Gambling At End of November
By David Madden
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- Internet gambling will be available in New Jersey just in time for Thanksgiving.
The state's Division of Gaming Enforcement has given the Atlantic City's twelve casinos the green light to proceed with "soft play" -- a practice run -- beginning November 21st.
After five days of trials, if all goes well, real online play can begin as soon as November 26th.
Joe Weinert, an analyst with the Spectrum Gaming Group, does not see online gambling as a savior to the casino industry in the shore town. But, he notes, "It's another revenue stream, and also, importantly, it's a way to incent Internet players to come to the land-based casinos as well."
Online play will be restricted to within the state of New Jersey and players will have to create accounts with a casino.
Nevada and Delaware also offer Internet gambling, and several other states are looking at the idea.
