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Internet Gambling Legislation Introduced in New Jersey - ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Proposed legislation that would allow Atlantic City casinos to offer their games to gamblers on the Internet was introduced in the state Legislature on November 9. New Jersey Assemblyman Nick Asselta and Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina, both Republicans, co-sponsored a bill that would allow gamblers in a remote location to play "real-time" games at a licensed casino resort via the Internet. Earlier this year, Nevada passed similar legislation that may eventually allow licensed casinos to offer Internet gaming once the technology to protect against fraud and illegal use is developed in place. Asselta explains, "There is an interest in beginning to explore the possibility of making this law to help Atlantic City to compete with what Nevada is starting to do. My worst nightmare is for someone in New Jersey to log on to their computer and gamble in a casino in Las Vegas." The bill's sponsors argue that the legislation would also protect the Atlantic City gaming industry against potential revenue losses caused by new casinos in New York and existing casinos in Connecticut.

Gambling Cash Access May Become Even More Convenient - LAS VEGAS - ATM machines on casino floors have been criticized for perpetuating problem gambling, and now systems are being developed that may allow gamblers to transfer cash directly into slot machines. Global Cash Access is developing a new system known as "QuikPlay." If approved, Quikplay will allow a gambler to use a debit card to transfer cash directly from a bank account into a slot machine. (Another gaming company, Innovative Gaming Corp. of America, also has patents covering the use of credit and debit cards in slot machines, but a product has not yet been introduced.) Carol O'Hare, executive director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, expressed concern about the convenience of cash access in casinos: "You have to remember, any time you're talking about customer convenience, you're making it easier for the customer with the problem." However, Ron Hunter, clinical director of Problem Gambling Consultants in Las Vegas, asked recovering gamblers whether putting an ATM in a slot machine would really have made their problems worse: "Almost all said, 'It's not about the temptation of the machine or the ATM being where we can reach it.' They'll reach it no matter what."