Christie Folds 'Em: Online Gaming Vetoed in NJ

Garden State residents won't be trading Atlantic City's green felt tables for their laptops anytime soon.  Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have made online gambling legal in New Jersey.

First reported in the WSJ, Christie's veto is seen as a blow to the gaming industry, which was looking to expand from brick-and-mortar casinos in Atlantic City to click-and-play sites online.

In a press conference before the veto was made public, Christie said he would veto the bill if he had legal or constitutional questions. “I’ve got to make sure that if I were to sign something like that that it would both be legal and constitutional,” he said.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Salem/Cumberland/Gloucester), the prime sponsor of the bill, issued a statement saying he would review Gov. Christie's veto, adding, "Still, the reality is that Internet gaming is coming and we need to figure out a way to make it work to benefit Atlantic City casinos. I hope to work cooperatively on new legislation that ensures New Jersey remains competitive for years to come in all aspects of modern gaming.”

The bill (A-2570) would have allowed all games, including poker, that are played at a casino to be offered through Internet wagering.

Any bets on a revised bill?

-Brigid Bergin