An editorial in a South NJ newspaper calls for the federal government to allow states to legalize sports betting:
Late last month, Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, whose South Jersey district includes Atlantic City, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone of Central Jersey, announced that they are working together in Congress to bring legalized sports betting to New Jersey.
Last fall, New Jersey voters, by a wide margin, gave their stamp of approval to legalized sports betting in a statewide referendum. In January, Gov. Chris Christie followed by signing into law a bill to make betting on professional and collegiate sports legal at Atlantic City’s casinos and the state’s horse racing tracks.
With the backing of a majority of residents and state lawmakers, Trenton has done its part to open the doors to sports betting. The next action must come from Washington. A bipartisan effort by LoBiondo and Pallone, may help.
Of the different bills authored by Pallone and LoBiondo, we would favor LoBiondo’s bill, but, certainly take either, if Congress ever gets around to acting. We favor LoBiondo’s legislation not because he’s from South Jersey, but because his bill is the fairest to all states.
LoBiondo’s bill — H.R. 3797 — would open a window for all U.S. states to decide before 2016 whether or not to legalize sports betting. Pallone’s bill, on the other hand, would carve out an exception from the federal law currently in place to add just New Jersey to the short list of states where sports betting is legal.
We believe it remains unfair to have federal legislation which allows a certain kind of betting in four states but doesn’t allow it in 46 others and doesn’t even have an option for the question to be revisited by states. In 1992, when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act passed Congress, New Jersey was given a chance to exempt itself and allow sports betting. It chose not to at the strong urging of then-U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J.
The world has changed since 1992. Both the Atlantic City casinos and New Jersey’s horse racing tracks are facing stiff competition and have struggled financially. Many jobs have been lost, and many more stand to be lost. Sports betting could give the casinos and tracks an advantage in again attracting more visitors.
New Jersey voters and lawmakers have voted in favor of legalized sports betting.
And the advent of the Internet and web-based online casinos based in other countries has made wagering on sports, illegal it may be, as simple as a few mouse clicks for anyone who wants.
The federal law needs to change. States, including this one, should have the power to make a decision for themselves on whether to legalize sports betting.
Source: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120515/OPINION03/305150001/States-should-choice
Late last month, Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, whose South Jersey district includes Atlantic City, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone of Central Jersey, announced that they are working together in Congress to bring legalized sports betting to New Jersey.
Last fall, New Jersey voters, by a wide margin, gave their stamp of approval to legalized sports betting in a statewide referendum. In January, Gov. Chris Christie followed by signing into law a bill to make betting on professional and collegiate sports legal at Atlantic City’s casinos and the state’s horse racing tracks.
With the backing of a majority of residents and state lawmakers, Trenton has done its part to open the doors to sports betting. The next action must come from Washington. A bipartisan effort by LoBiondo and Pallone, may help.
Of the different bills authored by Pallone and LoBiondo, we would favor LoBiondo’s bill, but, certainly take either, if Congress ever gets around to acting. We favor LoBiondo’s legislation not because he’s from South Jersey, but because his bill is the fairest to all states.
LoBiondo’s bill — H.R. 3797 — would open a window for all U.S. states to decide before 2016 whether or not to legalize sports betting. Pallone’s bill, on the other hand, would carve out an exception from the federal law currently in place to add just New Jersey to the short list of states where sports betting is legal.
We believe it remains unfair to have federal legislation which allows a certain kind of betting in four states but doesn’t allow it in 46 others and doesn’t even have an option for the question to be revisited by states. In 1992, when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act passed Congress, New Jersey was given a chance to exempt itself and allow sports betting. It chose not to at the strong urging of then-U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J.
The world has changed since 1992. Both the Atlantic City casinos and New Jersey’s horse racing tracks are facing stiff competition and have struggled financially. Many jobs have been lost, and many more stand to be lost. Sports betting could give the casinos and tracks an advantage in again attracting more visitors.
New Jersey voters and lawmakers have voted in favor of legalized sports betting.
And the advent of the Internet and web-based online casinos based in other countries has made wagering on sports, illegal it may be, as simple as a few mouse clicks for anyone who wants.
The federal law needs to change. States, including this one, should have the power to make a decision for themselves on whether to legalize sports betting.
Source: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120515/OPINION03/305150001/States-should-choice
