Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers will conduct the first comprehensive research study on Internet gambling in the United States

NEW JERSEY -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Center for Gambling Studies at the Rutgers University School of Social Work has been awarded $1,287,504 to study the impact of Internet gambling in New Jersey. New Jersey became the third state to allow gambling online when betting started last November.

Funded by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), in partnership with the
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services,
the three-year project will be the first comprehensive investigation of betting behavior on the
Internet in the U.S. It comes in response to a mandate from Gov. Chris Christie to examine the
impact of Internet gambling on problem gambling behaviors across the state.

"New Jersey is one of only three states where Internet gambling is legal," said Dr. Lia Nower,
professor and director of the Center who also serves as the principal investigator on the grant.
"But iGaming is a new frontier and no one knows quite what to expect. It's a real testament to
the Governor and the Division that they're taking such a responsible approach to evaluating
potential negative impacts, and we are really honored to be a part of it."

The project will begin in January of 2015 with a statewide baseline prevalence survey of a
representative sample of New Jersey residents. In the first wave of the study, a representative sample of 1,500 adult New Jersey residents will be interviewed by cell and landline phone and
2,000 residents, over the Internet regarding gambling behavior and Internet gambling.


In addition to the prevalence study, the Center also will provide four yearly reports to the
Governor, based on statistical analyses of the betting behavior of gamblers across Internet
gambling sites.

Gambling has become a $40 billion-a-year industry in the United States, generating more
revenue than movies, spectator sports, theme parks, cruise ships, and recorded music
combined. The global online gambling industry is one of the most rapidly expanding markets.
In New Jersey, patrons can play casino games as well as table games and poker online.
Currently there are six operating Atlantic City casino Internet gambling permit holders with 14
authorized online gambling websites available to those who establish accounts and play within
the borders of New Jersey.