Governor Christie signs law legalizing sports betting in New Jersey
Gamblers, rejoice!
Governor Chris Christie signed a law legalizing sports betting in New Jersey on Friday, according to NJ.com's Brent Johnson and Claude Brodesser-Akner.
Betting may begin as early as Sunday, Oct. 26, they write.
Governor Christie said in a statement:
As I've said all along, I am a strong proponent of legalized sports wagering in New Jersey. But given earlier decisions by federal courts, it was critical that we follow a correct and appropriate path to curtail new court challenges and expensive litigation. I believe we have found that path in this bipartisan legislative effort.
Johnson and Brodesser-Akner provide more context, as this has been an issue in New Jersey since 2011, when the state's residents voted to allow sports betting.
New Jerseyans voted in 2011 to legalize sports betting and Christie signed it into law the following year. But the sports leagues sued, saying the move violates a 1992 federal ban and hurts the integrity of their games. The issue bounced around the courts until the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the state's appeal earlier this year.
But a ruling by the federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals said it did not find that the federal ban prevented New Jersey from repealing state laws than banned sports betting.
(Thus), acting state Attorney General John Hoffman issued authorities a directive last month not to prosecute sports betting at casinos and racetracks. The idea was to ignore state regulations, licenses, and authorizations that are illegal under the federal ban.
The law Christie signed today officially lifts those regulations. Thus, sports betting wouldn't be regulated by the state under the law, but it would be legal for private operators to offer wagering.
Still, the issue isn't over. The Christie administration has asked a judge to clarify if this action is okay, and collegiate and professional sports leagues are challenging the move in federal appeals court.
The law is one measure Christie hopes will help revitalize Atlantic City, which has seen four casinos shut down in 2014.