proponent - a person who argues for or supports something (from Merriam-Webster's learnersdictionary.com)
lobbyist - a person who gets paid to try to influence government officials to make decisions for or against something (from Merriam-Webster's learnersdictionary.com)
revenue - money that is collected for...use by a government through taxes (from Merriam-Webster's learnersdictionary.com)

1.  What could prevent the online gambling bill passed by the New Jersey legislature from becoming a law?

2.  What argument do proponents of legalizing online gambling use?

3.  When/how was online gambling outlawed in the U.S.?

4.  The New Jersey State Legislature passed the online gambling bill by an overwhelming majority. What percent of New Jersey residents oppose online gambling?

5.  Do you support state legislators' attempts to try to push through state laws to get around the federal ban on Internet gambling? Should voters' opinions matter?  Explain your answer.

6.  From para. 21: One study estimated that online gambling in NJ would lead to a 5% reduction in Atlantic City casino revenue. Do you think overall gambling revenue [taxes] made by the government would increase, decrease or stay the same if people could gamble online? Explain your answer.

7.  Democratic State Senator Raymond Lesniak explained his support for online gambling by saying "Revenue is leaving the state to offshore Internet gaming and we should recapture those revenues for New Jersey and create jobs in New Jersey." Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.

8.  Why do you think state lawmakers who support the bill ignore the arguments opponents make regarding the damage gambling does to people and their families?

9. Ask your parents/grandparents if they know anyone whose life was positively or negatively affected by gambling. Share their replies with your class.

10. Legalized gambling is an issue on which libertarians and conservatives differ. Libertarians want as little government regulation as possible, and believe that people should be free to choose for themselves. Conservatives do not like a lot of government regulation, but in this case believe that gambling only harms people, and that the government should regulate harmful behavior [or at least not try to profit off of it].  Read the following comments made by Wall Street Journal readers at the end of the article. For each, state agree or disagree and explain your choices.

Reader comments in support of online gambling:

• "They might as well at least legalize online poker. Millions of people already play it, and all the rakes go offshore.... The concern about a casino in your living room that never closes is legitimate, but with the Internet, there are controls they can put on accounts, possibly at the request of the gambler himself, that could cut a ruinous gambling binge short."
• "If you don't want to be hurt, don't gamble. It's a choice."
• "I would like to have the freedom to make my own choice whether or not to gamble online. Does anyone object to having that freedom?"
• "You realize that the fact that it is currently illegal isn't stopping it, right? The addict is still getting his fix."

Reader comments opposed to online gambling:

• "Gambling provides no benefit to human existence of any kind. When states go into that business it's usually a sign of poverty and nation on the decline."
• "I live in Nevada, so I know first hand that all gambling does is move money around rather than actually generating an economy, because gambling takes away the consumers' discretionary and food money while increasing social problems, thereby lowering the quality of life. Gambling towns have high rates of crime, addiction, homelessness, and suicide. It's hard for restaurants, entertainment venues, and even furniture stores to survive, because so much discretionary spending goes into gambling. One day, historians will say that the widespread legalization of gambling was one of the key factors in the decline of America."
• "Wasn't all that long ago we were told the lottery was the cure all for our States fiscal problems. How'd that work out?"
• "They need money?? Have the state sell heroin - that'll raise REAL dough on the scale NJ needs."