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NJ Proposes Company-Paid Celebrity Internet Gambling Players

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey is proposing another way to boost its Internet gambling market: letting casino companies hire and fund celebrities to play online poker with the public.

The state Gaming Enforcement Division unveiled a proposal Thursday to let Internet gambling licensees hire celebrities, and provide them money with which to gamble.

The companies could pay the celebrities, and allow them to keep any money they win.

If they don't let the celebrity keep his or her winnings, it has to be reported as revenue for the casino.

The goal is to boost New Jersey's Internet gambling industry, which won $122 million in its first full year in 2014, and has already matched that total in the first 10 months of this year.

A public comment period ends Feb. 5.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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