Christie: NJ will defy federal ban, allow sports betting

by | 05.25.2012 | 10:32am
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Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday that New Jersey would defy a federal ban and move to allow betting on the outcome of basketball games, football games, and other sports beginning this fall, reports ESPN.com. He will make no attempt to overturn the 1992 federal law that limits sports betting to four states including Nevada.


Residents of the state voted 2-1 in a non-binding referendum to allow sports betting in the state. When the legislature earlier this year passed the law that would allow sports betting at Atlantic City casinos and the state’s four racetracks, Christie signed it. Robert Griffin, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, said he supports Christie’s approach to allowing sports betting and applauds him for listening to the voice of the voters. Other casino executives supported the move but were cautious about moving forward because of the potential for the federal government to step in and revoke their license to operate.


“We intend to go forward,” the Republican governor said. “If someone wants to stop us, then let them try to stop us. We want to work with the casinos and horse racing industry to get it implemented. Am I expecting there may be legal action taken against us to try to prevent it? Yes, but I have every confidence we’re going to be successful.”


Sen. Raymond Lesniak said: “The sooner you make an issue of New Jersey’s noncompliance with an unconstitutional federal ban, the sooner we can defeat that ban in the courts, and put New Jersey on the same competitive footing as the rest of the nation when it comes to sports wagering.”



» Read more at ESPN.com
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  • sittin’ chilly

    Go for it Fat Man. On this we’re with you. Better (and bettor) this than a casino at Monmouth.

  • Third Party

    Good move by Christie.  Washington (read Harry Reid/NV) has to now calculate what is the best realistic scenario:  Fight and lose where all 50 states can have sports betting, or pass one of the current bills in Congress that either just grandfather New Jersey or let all states have until 2016 to implement sports betting.

    Since California just moved its sports betting bill out of committee to the full Senate yesterday, giving all states until 2016 seems the most rational, but since when have politicians been routinely rational?

    The last vestige of Nevada’s gambling monopoly is about to be swept away. 

    The real question is what will NJ racing do with this latest (i.e. last) new revenue infusion?  Will they soberly take this revenue combined with actions to help racing be as sustainable as possible, or will they just ignore the problems facing the sport/industry and continue to “let the good times roll?”

    My 2 cents,

  • roger

    Bravo…..California should be right behind you.

  • http://twitter.com/JamesWelshUSA James Welsh

    Any insight as to whether Texas has any such legislation in the works?

  • Third Party

    It’s passed both the Government Organization and Appropriations Committees on unanimous votes.  It is now on the Senate floor.

  • Tinky

    While I would personally like to see exchange wagering adopted by the racing industry, and this is a step in that direction, the desperation on the part of state governments to shore up their budget imbalances through gambling – essentially a tax on those who can least afford it – is a deeply troubling symptom of just how sick American society has become.

  • http://Bellwether4u.com James Staples

    great move!!!…should be able to buy tickets for Horse Race n & sports betting @ the 7/11…GOOD LUCK TO THEM…

  • http://Bellwether4u.com James Staples

    u rather see the bookie get it???…BS…

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/HBI6ED45S7XH4IOHVURB2VXRE4 Chris Lowe

    who are the other 3 states other than nevada?

  • Third Party

     Oregon, Montana, Delaware

  • tom hewitt

    It’s no business of any level of government if I want to speculate on the outcome of an event with another person.  And what right do they have to skim some of the action?  This is simply one more method of governmental extortion of funds from the unwashed masses so that the elites can buy votes with other people’s money.

  • Don Reed

    Jeez, if the Mafia tried this (brazenly defying the law), the federal SWAT teams would have been parachuted in before the end of the news conference.
     
    However, SWAT teams from Nevada and three other states where gambling IS “legal” are expected to intercept Christie’s next move, any minute now.

    Becuse ya gotta protect ya franchise, right?

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