Online element removed from NJ bill
Voters would now only be permitted to place bets at in-state racetracks and casinos.
New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak (pictured) has removed online elements from his intrastate sports betting bill in the hope that it will pass “as soon as possible”.
The bill, initially introduced last month, will now simply permit residents of the Garden State to place bets at racetracks and casinos within state boundaries.
This news comes despite a recent referendum in the state seeing voters come out in favour if intrastate sports betting by a 2:1 margin. However, the language of the referendum did not specifically refer to the online component of Lesniak’s bill.
Earlier this week the Senator said: “I am willing to not include it in the bill, only because I want to get into court as soon as possible to have the federal law declared unconstitutional,” referring to his complaint against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a grievance which was initially thrown out by a federal judge in March.
The same month had seen Lesniak’s egaming bill vetoed at the last minute by Governor Chris Christie – eGaming Review understands the removal of the online element from the latest bill is a clear indication that Christie is still opposed to making New Jersey the first state to go live with a regulated egaming framework.