Christie Blamed For PokerStars Delay In New JerseyLesniak: 'Christie Just Giving Adelson Time' |
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New Jersey’s Republican Gov. Chris Christie is eyeing a potential run for the White House in 2016 and that could be the main reason why PokerStars isn’t yet available in the Garden State despite numerous attempts by the company to enter that market.
PokerStars is now under the ownership of Amaya Gaming Group, an acquisition that was designed to help PokerStars’ chances for a licence in New Jersey. Amaya currently has its license application pending there.
New Jersey state Sen. Ray Lesniak, who spearheaded online gambling legalization efforts in the state and who is eager to see a company like PokerStars enter the mix, took to Twitter this week to say that we can blame Christie for the slow pace of the review process. According to Lesniak, Christie is trying to appease billionaire casino boss Sheldon Adelson, an outspoken online gambling opponent and huge Republican campaign contributor.
Poker Stars in time out because they would boost AC and hurt Adelson's attempt in Congress to shut down Egaming
— Senator Ray Lesniak (@SenatorLesniak) November 11, 2014
@ridenomore Christie just giving Adelson time during Congressional lame duck session to kill Egaming
— Senator Ray Lesniak (@SenatorLesniak) November 11, 2014
Adelson is currently backing efforts on Capitol Hill to institute a nationwide ban on Internet gambling, though such a law passing is probably as unlikely as a federal bill authorizing online poker nationwide. Still, Adelson is trying and his money could be holding back the spread of online poker in a state-by-state scenario. Just three U.S. state currently have web betting.
Of course, Christie signed a bill authorizing online gambling in his state in 2013, so he isn’t against it like Adelson is. But, if Lesniak is right, Christie is putting on the brakes now.
New Jersey has its Division of Gaming Enforcement that in appearances operates independently from Christie, but that agency obviously feels political pressure.
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