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New Jersey Congressman Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo introduced legislation that would bring legalized sports betting to all states that want it, not just the Garden State.
New Jersey residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of a referendum that would legalize sports wagering in the state. Governor Chris Christie signed the legislation that passed through both the House and state senate last week. New Jersey legislators must now overturn a federal law that makes it illegal to bet on sports in all but four states.
Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat, is among those looking to have New Jersey specifically excluded but told the Asbury Park Press he has been in touch with Congressman LoBiondo.
“We’ve had discussions with his office,” Pallone said of LoBiondo. “I want to do things on a bipartisan basis. Whatever works. We’ll certainly work together.”
Pallone is working closely with State Senators Ray Lesniak, Jim Whelan, Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman John Burzichelli to get sports betting legalized in a number of the state’s Atlantic City casinos.
“The citizens of New Jersey have spoken loud and clear that they want the opportunity to share in the profits from professional sports betting,” said Pallone, who was joined by state Sens. Ray Lesniak, Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman John Burzichelli.
Joe Brennan, Jr., who heads up the grassroots website The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, has been instrumental in pushing forward efforts to legalize sports betting in New Jersey.
“New Jersey has shown that it is the key leader for the US gaming industry in matters of Internet and sports gambling,” Brennan said. “It seems likely the state will become the center for these new gaming industries in the years ahead.”
Americans are said to bet $100 billion a year on sports, both in Vegas and with betting sites located outside the United States.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
