Albano/Greenwald/Burzichelli Legalized Sports-Betting Bill Advances

By | January 24th, 2008 - 4:24pm
| More
Release Date: 
Jan 24 2008
Teaser: 

Assembly Democrats News Release

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE RELEASES
LEGALIZED SPORTS-BETTING BILL
Measure Would Legalize Wagering on Professional Athletics

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano, Louis Greenwald, and John Burzichelli sponsored to pave the way for Atlantic City casinos to take bets on professional sporting contests.

Assembly Democrats News Release

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE RELEASES
LEGALIZED SPORTS-BETTING BILL
Measure Would Legalize Wagering on Professional Athletics

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Nelson Albano, Louis Greenwald, and John Burzichelli sponsored to pave the way for Atlantic City casinos to take bets on professional sporting contests.

"There are multiple dividends for New Jersey if sports gambling were to be provided at Atlantic City's casinos," said Albano. "With the Super Bowl 10 days away, Atlantic City's casinos are again losing out as betters flock to Las Vegas. We need to ensure Atlantic City stays on the cutting edge and has a competitive advantage against the new wave of gambling offerings in other states."

Albano (D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May), Greenwald (D-Camden), and Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) said the sports betting legislation (A-1909) would help Atlantic City's casinos weather mounting gambling competition in other states and would help strengthen New Jersey's economy.

"Ever since its inception, Atlantic City's casinos have scored big for taxpayers, senior citizens, and residents with disabilities," said Greenwald. "Now, aggressive marketing campaigns from out-of-state gaming interests have become a real and present danger to Atlantic City. With one of the state's most important industries in the crosshairs, it is imperative that we seize this unique opportunity."

The lawmakers said the availability of legalized sports betting also would counteract illegal sports wagering enterprises that help finance other criminal activities in the state. In November, state Attorney General Anne Milgram announced the break-up of a $22 million illegal sports-betting ring operated out of a poker room at Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Among the 23 individuals charged in "Operation High Roller" were four men with ties to organized crime.

"Sports betting already exists in New Jersey, but only the criminals are enjoying the profits," said Burzichelli, the committee chairman. "Legal, carefully regulated sports wagering would bolster both Atlantic City and the state. New Jersey should go all-in."

The measure would allow New Jersey voters to decide whether the state should permit sports betting. Such a ballot question could appear on an election ballot as early as next November.

If approved by voters, licensed casinos would be able to accept in-person wagers solely on professional sports. Betting on amateur sports, such as collegiate football, would remain illegal. The bill would make the Casino Control Commission responsible for overseeing sports-betting activities.

In 1992, a federal law limiting sports gaming to Nevada was amended to give New Jersey and four other states an opportunity to approve sports betting, provided they acted prior to January 1, 1994. But the former Republican-controlled Assembly failed to put the question before voters in the November 1993 general election, and the deadline passed. As a result, Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana are the only states that legally can offer sports betting; only Nevada and Oregon actually provide such wagering.

"With the growth of out-of-state slots parlors and 'racinos', we should try to correct the mistake New Jersey made 15 years ago," said Albano. "Atlantic City needs to up the ante so it can remain the East Coast's premier gaming destination."

Albano, Greenwald, and Burzichelli said New Jersey has "decent odds" for successfully challenging the federal law in court and having it ruled unconstitutional. They said the federal dictate infringes on states' rights and that the constitutionality of the federal law remains untested.

Officials estimate that gamblers wager as much as $400 billion on sports nationally each year in the United States. According to news reports from last February, bettors in Nevada alone wagered $93.1 million on Super Bowl XVI.

"If New Jersey could tap into even a fraction of the national sports book, the state would could generate millions of dollars in new direct revenues and economic dividends from increased tourism," said Greenwald. "It wouldn't be a revenue avalanche, but the betting opportunity would certainly strengthen Atlantic City's marketability and gambling hand."

The assemblymen said the modest increase would help state programs that serve the elderly and people with disabilities.

"New Jersey needs to look to new ways to retain its edge in the increasingly competitive gaming industry," said Burzichelli. "Legalized sports gaming could broaden Atlantic City's appeal."

The measure was released 8-0. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

--30--

Contact Info: 

Assemblyman Albano
(609) 465-0700
Assemblyman Greenwald
(856) 435-1247
Assemblyman Burzichelli
(856) 251-9801

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: March 19, 2010

Christie vetoes 5 service contracts approved by Turnpike Authority  Governor Christie on Thursday vetoed five professional services contracts that were approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a month ago. The governor’s office said Christie exercised his eighth veto because the contract fees ranged from...

Wally Edge

Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) put out a statement today accusing GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan of “hiding from the press while trying to privately impress party bosses, and taking advantage of thousands of dollars...
The passing of Warren Wilentz means that David Norcross becomes the earliest nominated U.S. Senate candidate currently living.  Wilentz was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966 against Clifford Case, and Norcross was the Republican U....
The national political environment favored the GOP in 1966.  It was the mid-term election of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the war in Vietnam had just begun to divide the nation.   In New Jersey, Republican Clifford Case was...
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo issued a press release today urging the State Assembly to pass pension and health insurance reform bills, but did not mention in his 574-word that the person blocking the legislation, Assembly Speaker Sheila...
Two Republicans will formally announce campaigns for Congress this evening against Democratic incumbents: John Runyan, a retired NFL star who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, is challenging freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), and Diane...

Contributors

This is going to be a budget that is going to be unlike any other you’ve probably seen in NJ in at least the last 20 years and maybe... more »
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
On Tuesday, Governor Christie outlined a strategy to rescue New Jersey from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Like other states, we were not immune... more »
Governor Christie seems to have played the rotten fiscal cards he inherited fairly well. As reported by the Star-Ledger, he is proposing to cut school aid by more... more »
It's impossible to support consolidation of government services and also support COAH.S1 paints with a broad brush and thus will miss some fine points.  COAH paints with... more »
As part of his solution to New Jersey’s current budget deficit, Gov. Chris Christie announced that, effective yesterday, he will not allow any additional parents to enroll in FamilyCare,... more »
Do I love Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal?  Of course not.  Who would?  I’m sure he doesn’t like it, but that’s not the point, is it?  How could you... more »
The budget speech given on Tuesday by Governor Christie clearly illustrates his priorities – including disproportionately shifting the tax burden away from businesses and the wealthy, and... more »
On Rebate Issue, Christie Will Win.  The leading New Jersey Sunday newspapers yesterday confirmed that Governor Chris Christie will propose in his FY2011 budget the... more »
You’ve got to hand it to Christie; he calls it as he sees it.  I don’t mean the newly crowned Governor, Chris Christie, but his nine-year-old son, Patrick.  ... more »
Anyone involved in governing and administrating a town or county in New Jersey understands the economic problems outlined in The Star-Ledger editorials of February 28 and March 1.  The... more »
It is widely anticipated that Gov. Chris Christie’s first budget message, to be delivered on March 16, will show the harsh reality of New Jersey’s bleak financial outlook. No... more »
In keeping with the commitment I made to you in the November election, I am looking at every possible way to cut wasteful government spending and relieve your tax... more »
Wanted:  Courage to Pass Healthcare Reform In 1935, they spoke out against Social Security.  In 1965, they spoke out against Medicare.  And now in 2010, they are taking a politics-first... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
I have to genuinely wonder if this legislature will go down as the most taxing legislature in the history of the state of New Jersey surpassing the legislative actions... more »
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
3.20.10     Putz of the Week and Mensch of The Week It is not too often that I have designated a Democrat as the Putz of the Week and a Republican... more »
Limited government principles and fiscal conservatism are philosophically sound, because they preserve the people’s natural rights and they prevent government from overspending, over borrowing and overtaxing.   For more than... more »
New Jersey is in severe financial crisis because for years elected officials have been able to make irresponsible and short-sighted decisions without any restraint.  Future governors may... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »
On the day of his inauguration, Governor Christopher Christie inherited a gaping $2 billion hole in the state’s budget and swiftly set about the people’s business in meeting our... more »