[Junkyard Dog]

N.J. pro sports betting bill advances
02.07.08, 5:03 PM ET

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A measure that would let New Jersey voters decide whether to legalize professional sports betting in Atlantic City casinos was approved by the state Assembly Thursday, despite federal laws that ban such gambling in all but four states.

The Senate hasn't yet considered the bill, which is opposed by the National Football League.

If approved by the Legislature, the question would be placed to voters on the November general election ballot.

Proponents estimate as much as $800 million could be wagered annually on pro sports in Atlantic City casinos, which have been hurt by competition from slots parlors in neighboring states.

Various estimates of illegal sports gambling in the U.S. range from $80 billion to $380 billion per year, and in recent years, New Jersey has had several high-profile illegal gambling arrests involving alleged mobsters, casino employees, a state trooper and NHL hockey coach Rick Tocchet.

Federal law restricts legalized sports betting to four states -- Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. Only Nevada enables betting on professional and college games.

Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, said the federal law can be challenged.

'It may be the legal equivalent of a Hail Mary pass, but fighting for legalized pro sports gaming is a play New Jersey can't afford to pass up,' Greenwald said.

Sponsors of the bill said they would rework it to also allow in-person sports betting at three horse racing tracks and on NCAA contests that don't involve teams from New Jersey colleges and universities.

'The purpose behind allowing in-person sports betting in Atlantic City is to draw more people into New Jersey and protect the casinos from increased out-of-state competition,' said Assemblyman John Burzichelli. 'We should be no less vigilant in seeking to protect our horse racing industry.'

Burzichelli said it would be amended in the Senate.

Sen. Jim Whelan, the Senate wagering committee chairman and a former Atlantic City mayor, said his panel may consider the bill.

'It's something I've supported for Atlantic City for quite sometime,' said Whelan, D-Atlantic. 'The big obstacle to making it a reality, though, is the federal ban on sports betting for New Jersey, which won't go away just by our passing a bill.'

The NFL is fighting the proposal.

'It's bad policy because it turns human players into roulette chips with the sanction of the state,' said NFL attorney David H. Remes.

The effort comes as Atlantic City's casinos recorded the first decline in gambling revenue since they opened in 1978. The 11 casinos took in $4.9 billion last year, down from $5.2 billion in 2006.

The decline was blamed on new slots parlors in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York.

Casinos support the legislation. Joseph Lupo, vice president of operations for the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, noted the recent Super Bowl weekend was a huge event in Las Vegas, but not Atlantic City. About $92 million was bet at Nevada's 174 sports books on the Super Bowl this year.

Under the amendments, sports betting would also be allowed at Freehold Raceway, Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Tchocky]

They should pass this bill. It's absolutely ridiculous that Las Vegas is the only city in the country where you can legally bet on sports.

[ChuteBoxe]

Nothing like getting home from work early, and getting good news on top of it.

[DrunkenLullaby]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

It's absolutely ridiculous that Las Vegas is the only city in the country where you can legally bet on sports.

...and you can't even REALLY bet on sports there either....at least not as we (we being anybody who has ever had an account at Pinny or Oly or CRIS, etc) know it.

[MadCapper]

great news!

[ShamsWoof10]

What the hell does the NFL care..? It's offered in Vegas so what's the differance if it's offered in one more city in the US..? That would be sweet if it passes as I might go out to Atlantic City just for that reason...

[ritehook]

But as someone in the story noted, there is a federal ban on sports betting, except for the few areas (Nevada and NFL Lottery cards in Oregon) where it was grandfathered in.

The sad part is that when the law was passed back almost 20 years ago (spearheaded by Sen Bill Bradley, ex-NBA player) NJ was given a one-year opportunity to opt out of it, and leave the gates open to allowing it in the future.

Then, the NFL and NBA told Jersey that if they exercised their opt out those leagues would have to pull their teams out of the state.

So Jersey caved and allow the one year opt out to expire. And the irony is that the Nets are, I'm told, looking to move to New York, and the Jets may also be looking to move across the river., Leaving NJ with a bagful of hot air. And Atlantic City a ghost town.

Nice work, gents!

[Louisvillekid1]

THis would be a dream come true, wake up and walk to the sports books!!!

[jjgold]

YES

Sportsbooks going to be in the race tracks too

this will be unreal

[Seattle Slew]

Will never happen under any circumstances. The federal government will simply threaten to take away/limit New Jersey's federal funding for highways/roads if they proceed, which would destroy any state's budget.

[SPECULATOR 13]

Originally Posted by Louisvillekid1

THis would be a dream come true, wake up and walk to the sports books!!!

OR Louis. just drive down from Toronto spend the wknd in NYC during the NFL season to bet?
Atlantic City as never taken off because they only offer casino betting,the only reason why people go to Vegas is to bet sports FIRST!!!,make no mistake about that!.Don't let anybody tell you different,some in Vegas claim that the casinos want to close their books to replace them with slut machine.That's bullsh*t,Vegas is as dead as Atlantic City every year During their summer month because there is no sports betting.As soon as College football as starts the city comes alive again and BA-DA-BING the price for EVERYTHING goes up.

JUNKYARD DOG THANKS FOR THE GOOD NEWS BLOOD

http://www.acsportsbooks.com/

In this old website witch as never been updated in EONS,one can find a section called "HELP OUT"
In that section you will find a address where the good people of jersy can get in touch with Corzeine the governor.I have sent him many registered letter with the letter head of the Mutual Fund Manager that i work for,to let him know of the 7.9 million people in the ULTRA RICH Toronto market and the 7.5 million people in Quebec that would rush down to add to the already big numbers from the new-york tri-states area that would come to jersy instead of putting up with flying to Vegas.Look likes someone listen..i hope many of you on the east coast will take the time to do the same

[The HG]

Originally Posted by Seattle Slew

Will never happen under any circumstances.

Unfortunately I agree with this. They talk about this every year in NJ. It always comes up, it always gets a few mentions in the press, same story every year. But it's like other issues - legalization of pot, banning of abortion, etc etc. People love to talk about it, and anytime someone comments on it it gets coverage, but it would be such a seismic change in US society that it will never ever happen. It's way too entrenched.

[tblues2005]

I wouldn't be surprised if sports books go the race track someday. That would be great though, then you wouldn't have to travel anywhere to make a wager on sports.

[SPECULATOR 13]

Originally Posted by The HG

Unfortunately I agree with this. They talk about this every year in NJ. It always comes up, it always gets a few mentions in the press, same story every year..

HG and "Sea-slew" you lads are too pessimistic,New- Jersey like most of the north east and upper mid-west as lost most of it's industrial base.The north american economy for most part is base on the service industry and the vagaries of the market forces,there aren't anymore economic fundamentals to base a budget on,money is not coming in anymore.On the other hand Vegas is kickin' ass!! and as been non-stop since the 60's.I am not saying that all the states of the union are going to go for sports betting but Jersey as been " a little bit pregnant" only because they had plenty of other sources of revenue in the past.However things as change BIG TIME now.I don't think they have a choice,remember they are all ready up into their chin in it, pigging a the casino gambling revenue trough,so sports betting is only the next irreversible outcome .

[RageWizard]

I like the way the NFL is against it. What a bunch of F'ing hypocrits. They don't want to acknowledge what the gambling public has done for their sport.

[Seattle Slew]

Your argument makes perfect sense. It's just that the feds will never allow it, even if it passes the votes in New Jersey. They will get threatened with reduced federal funds and that will end it.

Originally Posted by SPECULATOR 13

HG and "Sea-slew" you lads are too pessimistic,New- Jersey like most of the north east and upper mid-west as lost most of it's industrial base.The north american economy for most part is base on the service industry and the vagaries of the market forces,there aren't anymore economic fundamentals to base a budget on,money is not coming in anymore.On the other hand Vegas is kickin' ass!! and as been non-stop since the 60's.I am not saying that all the states of the union are going to go for sports betting but Jersey as been " a little bit pregnant" only because they had plenty of other sources of revenue in the past.However things as change BIG TIME now.I don't think they have a choice,remember they are all ready up into their chin in it, pigging a the casino gambling revenue trough,so sports betting is only the next irreversible outcome .