Legalized Sport Gambling Gets Full Legislative Approval

Both the State Senate and the Assembly have passed a bill to allow licensed casinos in Atlantic City and racetracks to conduct wagering on professional and collegiate sport or athletic events, if a federal law is overturned.

Under the legislation, the Casino Control Commission is authorized to grant licenses to operate a sports pool and the Division of Gaming Enforcement would regulate those operations, generally in line with the current duties of the commission and the division with regard to casinos and their operations. 

A casino or racetrack may establish a sports wagering lounge independently at the casino or racetrack, or as a partnership between a casino and a racetrack at a racetrack location. Under the bill, a “racetrack” includes the site of any former racetrack. Wagering on sports events will not include wagering on any collegiate sport or athletic event that takes place in New Jersey or on a sport or athletic event in which any New Jersey college team participates regardless of where the event takes place.

“We want our casinos and racetracks to hit the ground running should New Jersey prove successful in overturning this unfair federal law, and this is  step in the right direction” says Assemblyman John Burzichelli, one of the bill’s sponsors. “New Jersey must be on the forefront of this gaming option should the opportunity arise, and this bill will accomplish that goal. We’ll be ready to go once we work through the legislative process.”