New Jersey Wants Federal Sports Gambling Law Stricken
Now that Delaware has considered instituting some form of sports gambling, New Jersey wants the right to do the same. In fact, a group of New Jersey state Senators asked Congress to remove the federal law against sports wagering, so that each state could make its own decision.Delaware is allowed to circumvent a 1992 federal law against sports gambling because it, along with Nevada, Montana, and Oregon were grandfathered in as having had a pre-existing type of sports betting. Delaware has recently begun discussion to renew legalized sports play to offset revenue losses to Maryland and Pennsylvania racino slots.
New Jersey lawmakers are worries the domino effect will reach them, drawing Atlantic City patrons to Delaware to bet on sports. The uneven competition involved in allowing one state to operate differently than another is similar to the uneven enforcement of online gambling policy, permitting horse tracks to accept bets while Internet casinos cannot. While sports is not a major money-maker for casinos, totalling only one percent of Las Vegas take, it is a popular marketing device to draw gamblers to bet at casinos and racinos.
The resolution in the New Jersey legislature has passed the Wagering, Tourism, and Historical Preservation Committees in both the state Assembly and Senate, and is expected to reach the chamber floors for a full vote soon. The proposal outlines the need both to attract more gamblers, as well as creating new government revenues. It also emphasized the importance of retaining casino jobs, which are in danger of increasing layoffs.
Online Casino Advisory sports analyst Edmund Crumley says that returning the right to wager on sports to the states would leave the federal government virtually no law to prosecute online gambling operators. However, he notes that an absence of law has not halted federal efforts to prevent online casinos from doing business in the US.
