The law has recently changed in New Jersey. This means it is now legal for the state’s residents (those over 21 anyway) to do what much of developed world outside America has been doing since the creation of the web, and gamble online.
This is highly significant for several reasons. First off; New Jersey is a populous state. With nine million inhabitants, it’s 11th on the list of most-populated US states. This puts Jersey much further up the list than the only two other states in which it’s legal to gamble online – Delaware and Nevada. This is significant as you have to live in the state and be in the state at the time of gambling.
This itself is problematic, however; in tests so far, geo-location technology has been found wanting with people legitimately and demonstrably in the state being barred from gambling as the geo-location simply has it wrong.
No doubt all such technical issues will be ironed out in time. But what is more significant still, is the fact that New Jersey may simply be the first sizeable state to legalize this form of gambling as others will “inevitably” follow suit.
Time will tell. Currently, just six of Atlantic City’s physical casinos have been granted the requisite licences to open online casinos – of which there are 13 in total as the physical casinos incorporate different versions and brands etc.
Again, this number will surely grow like crazy in the years to come and if more states legalize online gambling, it could become possible for people in different states to take part in gambling tournaments etc. The affiliates haven’t been slow to take up the challenge. It covers off all the issues gamblers would be concerned about quickly and easily such us introductory free cash offers, usability, peer reviews and a whole battery of other facets to produce a top-ten list.
Such affiliate sites surely have their eyes fixed on the future as gambling opens up throughout the country. If it does – the revenues involved (including tax dollars of course) could be enormous. What’s more; further legislation during 2014 could well open up Jersey to take on international competition. If the planned legislation goes through, then online casino operations physically located in the state would legitimately be able to offer their wares to overseas punters.
This is potentially huge. Gambling organizations from across the globe will want a piece of the action and, if they have a physical presence in the state, will be well-placed to offer their products anywhere where gambling is legal. And that could become other parts of the USA.
The affiliates’ role in all this would, of course, grow alongside the overall business – which is why there’s such an initial scramble to gain an effective foothold. The big picture of online gambling opening up across the US’s major states potentially opens the floodgates to a multi-billion dollar industry that just doesn’t really exist in the country at all as things stand.
