Eric Weiss, chief of technical services bureau and slot laboratory at the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, has a simple message to the online gaming industry—bring your new ideas to us.
The state—one of only three states to approve online gambling—has launched a “New Jersey First” initiative designed to attract new ideas in online gambling to the state.
“Our approach is simple,” Weiss told gigse.com. “We challenged the industry to innovate and to bring their products to New Jersey. Whether it is a social gaming approach, tournament or games purely based upon skill, the division is prepared to accept new products and to evaluate them for suitability.
“We have demonstrated that regulating the internet can be done effectively and with a high degree of integrity,” Weiss said. “Additionally, the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States has set up policy parameters for internet gaming. The New Jersey model of regulation is consistent with those policies making it easy for any state wishing to enter into the online market to comply with the NCLGS policy recommendations.”
Weiss said that for the online industry to survive, it has to innovate.
“The challenge is to reach the millennials, who are currently avoiding the casino floor in favor of bars and nightclubs,” Weiss said. “These individuals have grown up with their mobile devices and seem to find slot machines unappealing. I believe that the race is on to determine how to reach those individuals and to compete for their entertainment dollar. We believe that the skill-based initiative provides an excellent opportunity for vendors to reach that demographic.”
Weiss and NJDGE Deputy Director George Rover are inviting interested parties from the industry to express their thoughts on what is working and what can be improved in the state at the GIGSE gaming conference in San Francisco later this month.
