NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR SUPPORTS SPORTSBETTING
INITIATIVE
12 June 2009
Senator Lesniak gains heavyweight support for
sports betting action
Senator Ray Lesniak's push for the legalisation of
sports betting in the state of Jersey (see previous
InfoPowa reports) received a major boost this week when
Governor Jon Corzine announced his support.
The
Internet freedom advocacy group iMEGA flagged the move
as part of its watching brief on industry developments
likely to impact its constitutional litigation against
the US Department of Justice.
Governor Corzine
confirmed that he would seek to intervene in support of
a federal lawsuit filed by state Sen. Lesniak in an
effort to overturn a federal ban on sports betting in
New Jersey and 45 other states.
“The federal
government’s prohibition on sports betting for some but
not all states is fundamentally unfair,” Governor
Corzine said. “There should be uniformity in the
application of federal law. If one state is allowed to
legalize betting on sports events, all states should be
allowed the same opportunity.”
Since 1992,
federal law has outlawed wagering on sports except in
four states, Nevada, Montana, Oregon and Delaware. Last
month, Delaware took advantage of its 'grandfather'
exemption in the federal law to legalize sports betting
and table games at its three horse racing facilities
(see previous InfoPowa reports).
Legalized sports
betting in Delaware is a cause for concern within the
gaming industry in New Jersey because it puts Atlantic
City at a competitive disadvantage. Some estimates say
as much as $10 billion could be bet on sports annually
in New Jersey if such wagers were legal and could
generate $100 million in tax revenue for the state.
Governor Corzine will seek to join the lawsuit
Lesniak filed in March this year on behalf of himself as
a state senator, the Interactive Media Entertainment and
Gaming Association and two horse racing groups. The suit
asserts that federal law unconstitutionally regulates
commerce and discriminates against states were sports
betting is forbidden.
“Sports betting in the U.S.
is unregulated, untaxed and illegal,” Lesniak said.
“Rather than supporting thousands of jobs, economic
activity and tourism, the federal ban supports offshore
operators and organized crime.”
“Delaware’s entry
into sports wagering and table games is a serious threat
to the both the casino and horse racing industries in
New Jersey,” Governor Corzine said. “We must do
everything in our power to stay competitive. We simply
cannot afford to sit back and let neighboring states
press an unfair advantage against us anytime, and
certainly not in the midst of this global economic
crisis.”
Online Casino News Courtesy of
Infopowa
More news here.
Top of page |
Home |
News |
Forum |
Webcast |
Vortran |
Accredited Casinos |
Evil Ones |
Pitch a Bitch |
Online Gambling Resources |
Poker
|
