last week without explanation. But casinos, their political allies, and South Jersey business leaders fiercely opposed that timeline, saying it was too short.
Either way, opponents warned the limited, two-year window hurt the state’s online gaming industry, and thus Atlantic City as a whole. “Although not the 10-year window the bill’s sponsor originally intended, this adjustment still allows for the sports betting industry to grow and thrive in New Jersey with a five-year security in its operating ability,” the chamber said.
Internet gambling has been widely credited with helping Atlantic City’s casinos stay afloat during the early shutdowns of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as in the months that followed casinos reopening, when many gamblers remained leery of returning to crowded indoor spaces.