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REID-KYL POKER PROPOSAL 'OUTRAGEOUS' SAYS NEW JERSEY SENATOR (Update)

Source: bluffed.net


"these USA senators are trying to take away from the state of New Jersey and other states.

The release of details on a new federal proposal for the exclusive legalisation of online poker (see previous repoirts) has triggered a blistering response from New Jersey state senator Ray Lesniak, a high profile proponent of legalised online gambling where individual states wish to allow it.

I think it's outrageous that these USA senators are trying to take away from the state of New Jersey and other states, Lesniak told WCBS Thursday.

They want to keep it to themselves, most likely focused on Nevada, to the exclusion of our casinos in Atlantic City which need all the help they can get, Lesniak said.

He was referring to a bipartisan proposal engineered by Nevada Senator Harry Reid and Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona which seeks to federally legalise online poker whilst retaining carve outs for horse racing and state lotteries, but beefs up measures against other forms of online gambling.

Lesniak said the bill in Washington would deprive New Jersey casinos from cashing in on online gambling

If New Jersey allowed it, our casinos would get an additional $200 million of revenues a year, Lesniak told WCBS. The senators in Washington would take away that opportunity and take away hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues that our casinos need, he added.

Lesniak said he has appealed to New Jersey's Congressional and Senate delegations to help fight the bill in Washington.

We just cannot let that happen, Lesniak said.

Related News Tags: Atlantic City, New Jersey