TRENTON – Acting to remove legal obstacles in the effort to bring sports betting to New Jersey, the state Senate on Tuesday approved legislation, sponsored by senators Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, and Joseph Kyrillos, R-Monmouth, that would explicitly remove language in state law that now prohibits wagering on sporting events.
The move would reinforce the state attorney general’s attempt to lift the court injunction preventing the state from moving forward on plans to allow casinos and racetracks to offer sports betting.
“This could put New Jersey at the forefront of an industry with great potential for job creation and economic growth,” Lesniak said. “The Atlantic City casino closings and job losses underscore the importance of getting this done as soon as possible. It could be a lifeline to the casinos, putting people to work and generating economic activity in a growth industry.”
The four professional sports leagues and the NCAA filed a motion in court in an attempt to prevent the New Jersey attorney general from following through on the directive to not enforce the state’s law prohibiting sports betting. Removing the law from the books will give the state’s legal position more authority and will help withstand any more challenges, Lesniak said.
The measure would prohibit the transport of sports-betting equipment across state lines, set an age requirement of 21 years old and prohibit betting on athletic contests in the state or involving New Jersey colleges.
“As Atlantic City rebounds from the traumatic effect of casino closings, sports betting could be one of the best and more immediate opportunities to rebuild the city’s economy,” Whelan said. “Gaming will always be an important part of our attractions and sports betting will expand on it. This is good for Atlantic City, for the casino industry and the state.”
The gaming activity also would be allowed at state racetracks, helping to rejuvenate a historically important sector that is also experiencing hard times, Kyrillos said.
“New Jersey’s continued prohibition on sports betting at our casinos and racetracks is contrary to our interest of supporting employers that provide tens of thousands of jobs and add billions to our state’s economy,” Kyrillos said. “Sports betting will help set New Jersey’s wagering facilities apart from the competition and strengthen Monmouth Park and our struggling casino industry.”
New Jersey voters approved a non-binding referendum authorizing sports betting by a 2-1 margin in 2011.
The bill, S-2460, which was approved 27-1, is modeled after the Lesniak-sponsored measure vetoed by the governor before Lesniak developed the legal strategy of removing the state ban.
Lesniak identified the opinion by the Federal Court’s Third Circuit was an “open invitation” for New Jersey because it stated that it would not violate the federal ban on sports betting since that ban only applies to “state-authorized” wagers.
