Scr49

TRENTON – Senator Raymond Lesniak, the chief advocate in the State Legislature for sports wagering and online betting at New Jersey’s gaming establishments, said today that he was disappointed that the New Jersey Casino Association last week came out in opposition to his efforts.

“This is a case of casino owners putting the sports betting monopoly they enjoy in Las Vegas ahead of New Jersey’s economic well-being and competitiveness, pure and simple,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union, and chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee. “If Atlantic City is going to remain economically viable and a revenue generator for the southern part of our State, it has to offer new gaming products, including legalized sports wagering and online betting. The fact that New Jersey casino owners are standing in the way of Atlantic City’s economic recovery has more to do with the bottom line in Nevada than it does with concern for the Garden State and its residents.”

ATLANTIC CITY – Senate Economic Growth Committee Chairman Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) made the following statement this morning at the beginning of the panel’s hearing on legislation (SCR-49) to put a question on the November ballot asking New Jersey voters whether or not the state should legalize sports betting:

“When Manchester United plays Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, London, in the Premier League, the second most successful sports league in the world, fans can place a bet on either team right at the stadium. When the San Francisco 49ers take on the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium on Sunday October 31st of this year, the fans will not be able to place a bet at the stadium, because the National Football League, to protect the integrity of its sport, will not allow the betting windows to open. The fans will have to walk across the street to place their bets. The Broncos will no doubt be favored by a touchdown.

ATLANTIC CITY – On Monday, April 5, the Senate Economic Growth Committee will hold a public hearing at the Atlantic City Convention Center on SCR-49, legislation sponsored by Committee Chairman Raymond J. Lesniak, and Senator Jeff Van Drew to allow for legalized sports wagering in New Jersey.

“Legal sports wagering could be a tool to help in Atlantic City’s economic revival,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “Unfortunately, the federal ban on sports wagering in all but a handful of states stands as a blockade from New Jersey determining its own economic destiny. By advancing a constitutional amendment to legalize sports wagering, we can send a message about the constitutionality of the federal ban and position New Jersey to start sports wagering as soon a the ban is rescinded.”