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Voters appeared to be overwhelmingly approving a statewide referendum Tuesday that will change the state constitution to enable the legalization of gambling on professional and certain college sporting events—but only if a current federal ban is overturned.
The Star-Ledger was reporting that with 84% of the ballots counted, the measure was winning, 61 percent to 31 percent.
The amendment was supported by Oceanport Borough, home of Monmouth Park racetrack, as well as Gov. Chris Christie and State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), who argues that once the referendum is approved, it will only be a matter of months before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is ruled unconstitutional.
Lesniak has led the crusade for sports betting in New Jersey in the wake of the 2008 Monmouth County bust of an underground ring that scrounged up $35 million in illegal profits over the two years of its operation—which he cited as a waste of law enforcement dollars and a loss of revenue.
Four states—Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon—were grandfathered in to PASPA before its passage in 1993, and New Jersey had a one year window of opportunity to be included, which was shut when the state legislature opted not to pursue it.
The state Legislature again scuttled legalization when Lesniak attempted to reintroduce it in 2008. Sens. Lesniak and Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) then filed suit against the federal government along with a group of state casino and racetrack interests, citing PASPA as unconstitutional. The suit was tossed out in March of this year, when a federal judge ruled the plaintiffs had no legal standing, and must first obtain the approval of New Jersey voters to amend the state constitution.
Now that voters have approved that amendment, supporters of sports betting can head back to court.
Opponents of the amendment included the National Football League, which argued that gambling should not be allowed on sporting events.
John B Taxpayer
5:08 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It's THE only thing that could save Atlantic Cty casinos, along with Southwest airlines serving the airport!
CheckChange
5:56 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It can certainly help the ailing casino industry in AC....Actually Southwest already announced a pull out of ACY with their acquisition of AirTran. .....With that news, USAirways is the logical choice for commuter jet connections....They serve smaller airports all over the country....USAirways must find one of their smaller licensed carriers to do the job for them.
john
9:54 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
imo, it s going to take away from what would otherwise be spent $$ wise in AC....
Porterincollingswood
10:18 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
John, I disagree. What is compelling to me about sports betting is that it brings in a different class of gambler to AC. Many find slots and cards boring / confusing / time consuming, but would gladly lay down a hundred on a slate of NFL games (therefore enhancing a preferred leisure activity - watching sports).
And after they do that, they sit in the sports book bar and watch the games - eating and drinking for hours.
But even if you are right, consider this - sports gambling is 'passive'. I make my bet and then no further action is required. I can still go out and play blackjack or hold 'em while the games are being played.
The number of casino visits would, IMO, soar. I won't go down to AC to play cards. I would go down there to bet on sports. And if I had a phone account, like the state does with horse racing, so much the better.
grandma from point boro
11:55 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sounds like yet another way to diddle away the rent money. It seems that the answers to helping the economy always are dependant on profits derived by legalized "vices". While some can afford it, others are losing their stability and families because of addictive processes. Sports, casinos and personal bankruptcy.... perfect together.....
John B Taxpayer
1:01 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Or they can use their local bookie and get their knees broken. And NJ get's no tax revenue from the mob....
Ross Chatham
12:31 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
This merely legalizes and regulates something that people are doing anyway. The type of person who will fritter away all their money betting on sports is probably doing so as it is.
john
1:58 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
wonder what it s going to cost the state to get the feds to lift the ban on sports betting ? oddly thou if vegas has it , then it should nt be a big deal......
morrissey
2:14 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
lets see you can use a bookie and wager on credit and not leave your house all week or pay the tolls and gas and go to AC and put hard cash thru the window......i am betting the bookies have very little to worry about.....plus they run a better business than the state could ever
bayway mike
5:42 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
You are so right!!
He-He-He!!
George
12:14 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Why would you bother going down to AC when Freehold Race Track is much closer?
Most would rather have Gov. Christie and the local Bank waiting in their driveway looking for their vig then the local handicapper
Paul J. DiBartolo
3:58 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Okay, I see a spike in employment in the public sector if nothing else. We'll need some more regulators and we'll definitely have to beef up the ranks of gambling counselors to handle the overflow. BTW, Ross, there are many things that people do that might not be the best thing for them or legal for that matter, however, that does not justify the state legalizing and regulating those things.
Swift Loris
4:42 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
grandma, I'm with you. I'm against criminalizing most "vices," but I make an exception for gambling. I don't think any other "vice" so deeply corrupts the soul, of the gamblers (both those who can afford it and those who can't) and of those who enable, facilitate, and enrich themselves from gambling operations.
Mattie
5:20 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Swift- I feel that way about drinking... there's a vice with plenty of enabling for the sake of making a buck. The state loads on tons of liquor taxes, bars and restaurants have a 300% mark-up, and IMO nothing is more damaging and unhealthy a vice as drinking; yet it's acceptable, even at times glamorized.
I honestly don't know how I feel about yet another "vice" the government wants their hand in, while playing overbearing Nanny about others...either legalize and regulate them ALL (marijuana and drugs) or make them ALL illegal. Trying to have it both ways is crazy.
re-tired
5:24 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Gambling never does any good for society .Anyway they can`t compete with the largest casino Wall Street!
Swift Loris
5:52 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Mattie--it's a hard line to draw, and we couldn't effectively get rid of gambling by prohibiting it any more than we could get rid of drinking by prohibiting alcohol (we tried and failed miserably). I just hate to see gambling being *encouraged* by the state as if it were a worthwhile enterprise. Also, drinking in moderation can facilitate social interaction, which does have benefits, whereas there isn't much in the way of social benefit to gambling.
Mac
6:27 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
So you are saying that there is no social benefit to gambling for money. However, drinking booze can facilitate social interaction. Since voting is a lot like gambling for money, is it better to drink before you vote or after you get the results of the election? Just curious. I think I'll go eat a brownie and ponder these thoughts more on a full stomach too.
Paul J. DiBartolo
6:48 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Maybe you've seen the state lottery commercials that pass the lottery off as a way to build a college fund for your kids. Are they kidding? I believe it is actually criminal on the part of the state to make anybody think that they could profit from the lottery. If you or I did it we'd be run out of business and sued for false advertising. It's the Nanny-state taking advantage of those who don't know any better.
Mac
7:07 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
You win Paul. Drinking before the vote is best.
Swift Loris
6:36 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Would that be a "special" brownie, Mac? If so, bon appetit!
Mac
6:45 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
All brownies are special. I'm sure a brownie or two might even enlighten Gov. Christie to push through the bill enabling all of his constituents to experience less pain. A hot dog, a beer and a brownie. It's got my vote for property tax relief. :-)
Mattie
10:12 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Well the differences in opinions here proves one thing;
"One man's destructive vice is another man's harmless pastime"
As for gambling being as destructive as drinking??
I'd much rather a guy who just lost $1000 gambling is driving home at 2 AM than someone who just spent $100 drinking in a bar.... no comparison in my opinion- drinking wins Most Destructive, hands down.
grandma from point boro
11:07 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Well, it depends on what you have been exposed to over the years. I know many people who are "functional alcoholics", who are liked and respected by the people they work with and their drinking friends. Many provide for their families. All the time they are mentally scarring their kids and spouses, who feel captive, and react to the darker side of the drinker. Gamblers can act "normal" but their addiction oftentimes takes away everything they earn, plus the earnings of their partners and the financial stability of their family. I have never lived with anyone with a gambling addiction. The state will not use Sports betting revenues any more responsibly than they have the casino and lottery revenue. I'd rather give the money to a bookie, I think.
George
12:25 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
You might want to rethink your last thought. I would rather 'donate" the
bet to the legal handicapper than the other style just because of the
potential outcome.
George
12:31 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Will cost a pretty penny to get this done through the courts. New Jersey will be up against a foe (the NFL) with deep pockets. In the end we may just get the style of sports betting Del. was able to enact.
grandma from point boro
10:49 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Hi George. The last line was just written "tongue in cheek". Ultimately either bet will more often than not result in crooked individuals making a profit. The bookies are unabashed crooks working outside of the law. They don't promise that their profits will help children, education or the elderly. The other type of thief is insidious. The perpetrators portray themselves as pious and honest, with only the most valient intent. Our elected officials are in positions of responsibility and to whom the public puts their trust. I sometimes wonder why people don't seem to be as outraged at ongoing white-collar thievery, as they do with regard to other personal behaviors that they deem "immoral".
barbara
9:49 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
I think it's so hypocritical that we have PSA's about how you can get help for your gambling addiction and then vote on something like this. When the State can make money on something, it's not illegal anymore. Years ago, the corner numbers guy would get arrested but now you can go to the local grocery and play the lottery numbers. No wonder things are screwed up.
grandma from point boro
10:52 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
You are so on the mark!
Billabong
12:11 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Barbara, this type of hypocrisy has been going on for years in the ticket business. Ticket scalping in NJ is illegal...unless of course you have applied for and received, a broker license through the state. Sounds sort of like a "regulated illegality."
JerseyVet
5:06 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
I feel this bill was way over due, I also feel that only Atlantic City should be the only betting place in the state to boost AC Casino's and bring extra jobs. The bill is too watered down, where too many places can place bets, Are they going to privatize these new jobs? There are too many questions to be answered.