California Moves Forward with Sports Betting Bill

California would be in a position to allow sports betting at race tracks, card rooms and casinos under a bill approved by the state Senate.

Sen. Rob Wright says the state could not move ahead until the federal government resolves a lawsuit filed by New Jersey over proposed sports betting there. His SB1390 would limit sports betting to entities that already have gambling licenses.

Wright, a Democrat from Inglewood, says about $2.6 billion is legally wagered on sports in Nevada each year. Gambling interests say New Jersey's law could bring about $1 billion in annual betting there, with tens of millions of tax dollars flowing to the state.

The bill passed on a 33-2 vote Tuesday and goes to the Assembly.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)