SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
New Jersey is set to allow sports betting by the start of September, despite the federal ban on the activity outside of Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. Senator Ray Lesniak has been bullish in predicting that New Jersey will allow sports betting by the start of the American Football season if the US Supreme Court decides not to review the federal ban.
The Supreme Court is expected to make an announcement on Monday about whether it will take up the long-running challenge to the federal ban, but Lesniak is poised to move if the Court passes. He commented: “Legislation is already drafted, ready to be dropped.”
In the face of intense pressure from the professional sports, New Jersey has been fighting in court for years to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, claiming it unconstitutionally infringes states’ rights to raise tax revenue and gives preferential treatment to four states that received exemptions.
Lesniak has already said that he would make the first bet after the local New Jersey laws have been passed at the Monmouth racetrack, which has a deal in place with William Hill’s US subsidiary for the potential provision of sports betting.
If the Supreme Court does agree to take on the review, then the timeline would undoubtedly slip as New Jersey played ball. But given the state’s citizens are supportive of the opportunity to bet on sport, it seems New Jersey is prepared to challenge it alone.
