The U.S. state of New Jersey is mulling a ten-year extension for online gambling, which helped keep casinos afloat during the pandemic.

Local media reports that a state Assembly committee held a hearing on Thursday that would see internet gambling permitted through to 2033. It still requires additional rounds of approval before going to the governor for his signature.

The committee also advanced a bill that would require casinos offering internet gambling to prominently advertise the name of their Atlantic City property on all their online betting sites. Another bill put forward will also allow gambling on eSports.

“Internet gaming has proven to be an integral part of gaming in New Jersey,” Assemblyman Don Guardian, a former mayor of Atlantic City, was cited as saying by the Associated Press. “It’s one of the reasons we still have casinos in New Jersey.”

Casinos in the state were shut for three-and-a-half months at the onset of the Covid pandemic, but the state’s nine casinos are still struggling to return to their pre-pandemic revenue levels, the reports said.

New Jersey launched internet casino games in 2013 and since then its casinos have brought in $4.79 billion from gamblers online. The figures do not include sports betting revenue, which is reported separately.

THE 300 SPARTANS:

After triumphing in key locations across Asia and Europe, AGS is flying 300 top affiliates to Malta, for an all-inclusive deluxe trip. The event will happen alongside SiGMA, 14-18th November, during?SiGMA Europe.

Read more about the 300 Spartans?here.