Sports betting is now permitted in the state of New Jersey. Governor Chris Christie signed the legislation into law on Friday, which allows racetracks and casinos to begin accepting wagers on sporting events.
Back in September Christie lifted the ban on sports betting and announced the state would not prosecute casinos and racetracks to accept sports bets. However, his decision came as a surprise to the casino and horse racing industries, and nobody was prepared to launch a sports book to begin operations. But now that Christie officially signed the bill into law, many are expected to accept such wagers.
In fact, one of the state's oldest thoroughbred tracks, Monmouth Park, said it would offer sports betting on Sunday, October 26. But the state is currently in legal battles with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA over the matter, so it's unknown how long the practice will last. This legal battle actually forced Christie to veto a number of bills in previous years that would have repealed New Jersey's prohibitions on sports betting. Casinos and racetracks were technically allowed to offer it, but they faced prosecution from the state.
But now, due to the ailing casino industry and perhaps in an effort to better the New Jersey economy to help bolster his campaign for the 2016 presidential election, Christie has made decision over the past month or so to allow sports betting. U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp has postponed oral arguments on the matter until October 31. Shipp previously issued an injunction back in 2012 that stopped the state from going through with the gambling bill, and then the Supreme Court declined to hear the case on appeal.
The New Jersey Sports Betting Amendment was on the November 8, 2011 ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, but it was not binding because the "Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992" only allows betting four states - Nevada, Montana, Oregon and Delaware. As a result, Shipp sided with the sports leagues and said the bill would get clearance if New Jersey could get Congress to repeal or amend the 1992 law.
But Christie and New Jersey have bypassed a ruling from the court and took matters into their own hands. In an attempt to save the sinking casino and horse racing industries, the state has now allowed sports betting until further legal action is taken by the federal government.
It'll be interesting to see how this issue is dealt with at the national level.
