New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed an internet gaming bill that will bring intra-state online casino gaming, including poker, to both residents and visitors of the state.

The news comes courtesy of a report by John Brennan in The Bergen Record.

The bill was passed Tuesday, February 26 in an emergency session which took place before Gov. Christie's budget speech. The bill had robust support in both the Assembly and Senate, which voted in favour of the gaming legislation 69-5-1 and 36-1, respectively.

Gov. Christie had issued a conditional veto to the legislation earlier this month in order to have a few revisions included in the bill that he signed off on this week.

“This was a critical decision, and one that I did not make lightly,” Christie was quoted as saying in Brennan's report. “But with the proper regulatory framework and safeguards that I insisted on including in the bill, I am confident that we are offering a responsible yet exciting option that will make Atlantic City more competitive while also bringing financial benefits to New Jersey as a whole.”

An official with the Poker Players Alliance has been cited as saying that he hopes New Jersey's gaming enforcement division will issue proposed regulations, which will be up for comment, by the end of March.

(With files from The Bergen Record)