Atlantic City, New Jersey Could See Sports Gambling Soon

Difficult times are upon the casinos in Atlantic City as slot parlors rise in New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and attendance and revenue decline in this East coast Las Vegas.

The NJ State Legislature is on its way to approving expanded gambling in Atlantic City and in the State's Racetracks with the inclusion of sports wagering. The State Assembly this past February has passed a bill, which would legalize sports wagering at casinos only.

The bill is not a slam-dunk. Voters, as well as the Legislature must approve it, and if approved, the State of New Jersey will be forced to file a federal lawsuit to challenge a 1994 Federal Law that allows this type of gambling in only four States (Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana).

Professional sports leagues are against any type of further legalization of wagering, declaring that it can jeopardize the integrity of their game. Jay Moyer, special counsel to the NFL said, "Gambling does nothing to sports but create problems."

What the NFL and other big leagues such as the NBA, NCAA, NHL, and MLB fail to acknowledge is that there has always been and will continue to be wagering on sporting events. Much of this gambling is illegal and conducted by the street bookies, or Internet casinos. By making it legal to place a wager on a sporting event, the seedy, low-level influence of organized crime will be at least controlled, and at best negated, which would ensure the integrity of their game.

It is time for States to assert their rights and we applaud New Jersey for taking the lead in this effort.

May 24, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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