Here is a recent article reflecting the Sports Betting bill being introduced in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-Monmouth, said Friday that he will introduce a bill in the House of Representatives designed to exclude New Jersey from a 20-year-old federal law that bans sports betting in most states.

New Jersey residents passed an amendment to the State Constitution yesterday to allow Sports Betting in the State of New Jersey.  The question on the ballot was worded as follows:

PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 1

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AUTHORIZING LEGISLATURE BY LAW TO ALLOW WAGERING ON SPORTS EVENTS AT ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS AND AT HORSE RACETRACKS.

Shall the amendment to Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, agreed to by the Legislature, providing that it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law wagering at casinos or gambling houses in Atlantic City and at current or former running and harness horse racetracks on the results of professional, certain college, or amateur sport or athletic events be approved?

INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT

A “Yes” vote on this question would allow the Legislature, when permitted by federal law, to legalize the placing of bets on certain sports events at casinos, racetracks, and former racetrack sites.  Currently, federal law only permits this type of betting in Nevada and Delaware.  It also occurs through illegal betting operations.  If legalized in New Jersey, bets could be placed on professional, college, or amateur sports or athletic events, except that bets could not be placed on any college sports or athletic event that takes place in New Jersey or in which a New Jersey college team is playing.

With 91% of the precincts reporting, according to The Star-Ledger, there were 578,410 Yes votes and 315,692 No votes (65%-35% in favor of Yes).  Although the federal law still must be overturned, and I am pretty sure the highly hypocritical NFL will still have a say in matters, a 2-1 vote by the people is a huge tool in the arsenal to fight this battle in court.    After all, this country is governed by a Democracy and anything less than legalization at this point will be a complete failure by Government and a smack in the face to what all of our veterans have fought for throughout the years. Read More→