Report: Christie Considering A Conditional Veto

A report by a New Jersey publisher on Wednesday claims that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is considering issuing a conditional veto in regards to the internet gambling bill that the state's legislature passed last year.

Magazine publisher Roger Gros tweeted what he had heard, reporting: "Sources in NJ tell me Gov. Christie considering a “conditional” veto of online bill. But only because Dems are blocking his other plans.”

The move could be a political ploy by Christie to use internet gambling as leverage to push some of his other policies. Another thought is that Christie is not happy with the inclusion of casino games in the bill and could instead sign the bill partially to allow for internet poker only.

Christie is up against a deadline that requires all bills passed by the New Jersey legislature to be signed into law or vetoed within a set time frame, or else see the bill automatically converted into law.

If Christie is using the bill as leverage, he may indirectly be holding several Atlantic City casino job hostage. Regular readers will recall that Casino Listings reported yesterday that the Atlantic Club Casino in Atlantic City may have to lay off more than 1,700 workers if internet poker giant PokerStars does not move ahead with its acquisition of the property. Reports are swirling that PokerStars' interest in the casino is contingent on the passage of the internet betting law.