TRENTON – State Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May/Cumberland/Atlantic), a sponsor of the legislation (SCR-49) to ask New Jersey voters whether to legalize sports betting, released the following statement on today’s decision by the NFL to hold Super Bowl XLVIII at New Jersey’s Meadowlands Stadium in 2014:
“With the Super Bowl coming to New Jersey’s Meadowlands, it is all the more important for us to push for legal sports wagering in our state. For one day, New Jersey could be the center of the sports universe, with the biggest game of the year taking place in North Jersey and casinos packed in Atlantic City.
“As they do each Super Bowl Sunday in Las Vegas, sports fans would flood Atlantic City’s casinos to place their bets on the big game. But they would also dine at our exclusive restaurants, shop at our top-of-the-line retail stores and stay at our world-class resort hotels.
“With legal sports betting in Atlantic City, the Super Bowl would be an entertainment win for sports fans and an economic win for the entire state.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to market both Atlantic City and the State of New Jersey to tourists from all over the world.
“It’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”