New sports betting bill to be introduced in Congress as "backstop"
November 21, 2017
It's been five years since new Jersey House of Representatives member Frank Pallone, D-Monmouth, first introduced a bill to legalize Las Vegas-style sports betting beyond Nevada. On Tuesday, he announced another in a series of such efforts.
Pallone's GAME Act, discussed at a press conference at Monmouth Park, is in the process of being produced even though Pallone, like many involved in the multi-year New Jersey sports betting saga, express a high level of confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down all or part of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. So far, it is at the "discussion draft" level.
"Prohibition doesn't work," said Pallone, referring to the extensive illegal sports bookmaking operations in every state.
Pallone told me that this bill is significantly different from previous versions because it tackles a broader array of gambling issues such as online gaming and daily fantasy sports.
Drazin, who is more bullish on the size of the market than others in the industry, estimated that the scope of the New Jersey sports betting market could be $10 billion, with $1 billion annually being wagered at Monmouth Park.
"We believe we're going to win this time around," Drazin said of the fact that the Court agreed to a 1 in 100 chance to take the case.
William Pascrell III, who has lobbied for legal sports betting in New Jersey for years, noted that the 2011 ballot question that gained 68 percent of the vote statewide showed state backing for the idea across all demographic profiles. Pascrell called the bill a "backstop if, God forbid, we are not successful" at the Supreme Court level.
Pallone said his optimism in his House bill stems from a gradually increasing acceptance by the public over the past 25 years for legalization of sports betting.
"As far as my colleagues are concerned, I think that is true as well," Pallone said.
I asked Pallone if Republican colleagues are more for his bill, against it - or indifferent.
"Either for it, or indifferent," he replied. "We're not setting up a federal gaming structure here."
Drazin said there would be "kiosks and tellers" at the already-open $1 William Hill sports book. But he added that the longterm plan would be for a larger "Las Vegas-style sports book" with William Hill costing $5 million to $10 million at either the Lady's Secret Cafe that overlooks the paddock or at added to near the valet lot." The grandstand also would be "transformed," Drazin said, to accommodate the new betting.
Oral argument before the Court will take place in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 4.
Written by
John Brennan
Former Senior Writer at The (Bergen) Record
November 21, 2017
It's been five years since new Jersey House of Representatives member Frank Pallone, D-Monmouth, first introduced a bill to legalize Las Vegas-style sports betting beyond Nevada. On Tuesday, he announced another in a series of such efforts.
Pallone's GAME Act, discussed at a press conference at Monmouth Park, is in the process of being produced even though Pallone, like many involved in the multi-year New Jersey sports betting saga, express a high level of confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down all or part of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. So far, it is at the "discussion draft" level.
"Prohibition doesn't work," said Pallone, referring to the extensive illegal sports bookmaking operations in every state.
Pallone told me that this bill is significantly different from previous versions because it tackles a broader array of gambling issues such as online gaming and daily fantasy sports.
Drazin, who is more bullish on the size of the market than others in the industry, estimated that the scope of the New Jersey sports betting market could be $10 billion, with $1 billion annually being wagered at Monmouth Park.
"We believe we're going to win this time around," Drazin said of the fact that the Court agreed to a 1 in 100 chance to take the case.
William Pascrell III, who has lobbied for legal sports betting in New Jersey for years, noted that the 2011 ballot question that gained 68 percent of the vote statewide showed state backing for the idea across all demographic profiles. Pascrell called the bill a "backstop if, God forbid, we are not successful" at the Supreme Court level.
Pallone said his optimism in his House bill stems from a gradually increasing acceptance by the public over the past 25 years for legalization of sports betting.
"As far as my colleagues are concerned, I think that is true as well," Pallone said.
I asked Pallone if Republican colleagues are more for his bill, against it - or indifferent.
"Either for it, or indifferent," he replied. "We're not setting up a federal gaming structure here."
Drazin said there would be "kiosks and tellers" at the already-open $1 William Hill sports book. But he added that the longterm plan would be for a larger "Las Vegas-style sports book" with William Hill costing $5 million to $10 million at either the Lady's Secret Cafe that overlooks the paddock or at added to near the valet lot." The grandstand also would be "transformed," Drazin said, to accommodate the new betting.
Oral argument before the Court will take place in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 4.
Written by
John Brennan
Former Senior Writer at The (Bergen) Record
