All we can say is “Ah hah. We knew it.”

Mark Juliano, president of the New Jersey Casino Association gave testimony Friday before a Legislative summit on the state’s gaming industry that casino companies in Atlantic City are preparing for the legalizing of online gaming.

“We are all working with software programs to provide a mode for online poker rooms and casino games and we’re obviously watching the legislation on this very carefully,” he said. “We do think that it is inevitable that it will pass at some point and we’re just waiting for some legislative direction.”

Juliano

The comments came after direct questions about moves in the state Legislature to make New Jersey the first state to allow intra-state online gaming, or gaming accessible only to New Jersey residents.

Still, Juliano did repeat the association’s stance that they don’t believe that matter can be settled on the state level and that a federal bill will be needed.

Juliano made similar statements about sports betting, which state legislators are also trying to enact.

“We would love to have the amenity,” Juliano said. “But it’s not a statewide issue. It’s a federal issue.”

Still, his comments show that the city’s gaming industry is closely following the movement of Rep. Barney Frank’s bill in Congress to legalize Internet gaming and probably also the efforts by state legislators on both sports betting and online gaming.

The federal bill, however, is unlikely to be passed this year and state moves have lost traction recently.

Obviously, a company such as Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns four A.C. casinos, has holdings throughout the country including Nevada, but it is a sign that other A.C. casinos (and even Harrah’s if the state should act first)  could make the resort a hub for online gambling should either the state or federal moves succeed.

Of course that’s still a long shot, but it’s nice to know they’re ready.

Tags: Atlantic City gaming summit, Atlantic City online gaming, Mark Juliano, Poker headlines

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