New Jersey one step closer to legalising sports betting
Politicians pass bill seeking to repeal ban on sports betting at the state's racetracks and casinos
New Jersey politicans have approved a bill seeking to repeal prohibitions on sports betting at the state’s casinos and racetracks.
The news comes just weeks after Governor Christ Christie issued a directive saying the state’s casino and racetracks would not be prosecuted for offering sportsbooks.
Bill A3711 – sponsored by Assemblyman Ralph Caputo – passed through the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and Arts Committee unanimously, with a 7-0 vote yesterday.
A similar bill is expected to be introduced and passed by the Senate next week, before being signed into law by Governor Christie.
The Monmouth Park Racetrack looks set to lead the charge for operators, having already partnered with UK bookmaker William Hill.
“We are reviewing the Attorney General’s directive and the motion filed in US District Court,” Dan Shapiro, director of business development at William Hill US, said.
“Obviously, this is a significant development. Like others, we recognise that legalised sports betting is inevitable, and will be a good outcome for customers, states and the sports leagues.
“In light of our significant investment at Monmouth Park, we are happy that it appears racetracks and casinos in New Jersey will be taking sports bets sooner rather than later,” he added.
However the nation’s four largest sports leagues, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association have already challenged the Bill in court, with the Department of Justice siding with the leagues.
Christie’s directive was issued despite a federal judge banning New Jersey from implementing its Sports Wagering Act which was signed into law by the Governor back in March 2012.
The judge said the Act violated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which bans sports betting in all bar four US states – Nevada, Oregon Delaware and Montana. A federal appeals court agreed, but conceded that nothing prevented the state from appealing its own ban.
New Jersey appealed to the Supreme Court in a bid to overturn the lower court’s decision, with Senator Lesniak drafting his own bill – SB 2250 – to allow sports betting based on the revised interpretation of PASPA after the Supreme Court chose not take the case.
The state has asked the federal court to amend or lift its injunction that prevents New Jersey from enacting its Sports Wagering Act, and to clarify the directive issued by Christie, with the court scheduled to rule on the motion on 6 October.