New Jersey reintroduces sports betting bill

Two congressmen reintroduced a legislation to lift the sports betting prohibition on a federal level.

US.- Frank LoBiondo and Frank Pallone Jr. introduced two bills in New Jersey to push for a federal government lift of the ban on sports betting. The congressmen are seeking the cancellation of the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).

Pallone and LoBiondo introduced two separate bills, the former trying to exempt New Jersey from the PASPA prohibition with NJ BET Act, whilst LoBiondo’s Sports Gaming Opportunity Act would give every state a four-year window to let them decide for themselves if they want a legal sports betting industry in their territories. Even though the bills seems pretty consistent, this is not the first time that the congressmen try to pass a bill, and they don’t have any guarantee that this year they would get a different outcome.

Last month, the Supreme Court asked the country’s Acting Solicitor General to submit a brief on the sports betting legislation case from the state, which is seeking an authorisation to operate the activity in Atlantic City casinos and local racetracks. This measure would determine how the United States feels about sports betting in the country, not only in the east state. Earlier this month, Chris Christie, New Jersey’s Governor, along with the local Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association asked the Supreme Court to contemplate his sports betting lawsuit against the big professional sports leagues and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

PASPA, a sports protection act that was passed in 1992, prevents states from offering gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were granted special exemptions, as all four of those states were offering some variation of sports lotteries back in 1992. The American Gaming Association said in January that they are encouraged that the U.S. Supreme Court has expressed interest in the problems posed by PASPA, the failed law that fuels a US$150 billion illegal sports betting market. “We are optimistic that the 25-year-old federal sports betting ban will be removed and sports fans will soon have safe, legal ways to engage in sports that also protect the integrity of games.” If New Jersey manages to legalise the sports betting industry, it is expected that multiple states would follow and push their own legislations.