#80540

[Tony Trader]

New Jersey Senate Approves Sports Betting Resolution.

Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, a leading voice in the State Legislature who is pursuing a legal challenge to the federal sports wagering ban as unconstitutional, issued the following statement after the Senate approved a resolution, SR19, through a voice vote, to allow the Senate President to join in that legal challenge:

     

"In 1992, PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, was signed into law. PASPA banned all sports betting except in the states of Nevada, which had all forms of sports betting, and Delaware, Oregon and Montana which had limited lottery forms of sports betting.

     

"PASPA gave New Jersey one year to legalize sports betting, through an amendment to its Constitution approved by the electorate at the ballot box in November of 1992. The New Jersey Senate voted twice to place such a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot, an effort I supported both times. The Assembly never posted it for a vote and New Jersey was denied an opportunity to boost tourism in Atlantic City and revenues for education, senior citizens and the handicapped, as those funds from casino gambling are dedicated in our Constitution.


"Here's what's at stake for New Jersey: $650 million a year in gross sports wagering revenues, as estimated by LVSC, a division of Cantor Fitzgerald. Plus $60 million a year in state revenues.

     

"That's $650 million a year of gross profits for our casinos and racetracks, creating and keeping thousands of jobs and attracting tourism to Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County."What's at stake if the Senate doesn't join the lawsuit as a plaintiff is my ability to raise what some legal scholars believe to be the strongest argument against PASPA: the Tenth Amendment's States' Rights. Only a State has standing to raise this claim. That's why Governor Corzine filed a motion to intervene as a plaintiff. I have asked Governor Christie to substitute for Governor Corzine, but have not yet received a reply. The Court has given Governor Christie until March 12th to file his substitution.