The future of Internet gambling in New Jersey is now in jeopardy as the state legislature recently passed a bill to extend permits for another five years But the approved bill puzzled industry officials and Atlantic City casinos alike due to the unexpected changes made earlier this week.

The original plan was to allow a 10-year extension to Internet gambling, which has been in operation for 10 years. Surprisingly, however, the parliamentary committee secretly reduced the extension to just two years, causing confusion and concern among stakeholders. Soon after, the extension was revised again to a five-year term without a formal explanation.

The state legislature and Senate approved the bill with little resistance, and are now awaiting the decision of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who has the final say on its implementation.

The Atlantic City casino industry expressed strong support for the 10-year extension, citing the importance of the casino's continued success through the Korea International Trade Association. Gambling industry consultant Daniel Hennegan has expressed reservations, saying the extension could send the wrong message to potential companies interested in entering the online game market, AP reported. 경마사이트

Since the introduction of Internet gambling in November 2013, casinos in Atlantic City have generated impressive revenue of $6.29 billion from online gamblers. This growth has contributed significantly to the survival of Atlantic City casinos during the pandemic, when online gambling has proven to be a lifeline for struggling industries.