“We need to be ready when it happens,” said Assemblyman James Whelan, D-Atlantic, one of the sponsors of the amendment. “If the ban is overturned, Delaware could respond within weeks and New York, Pennsylvania an Connecticut would be right behind hem. But if we are only starting the process, it could take two years for us to be able to respond.”
Adding to the urgency is a lawsuit brought by state Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak, (D-Union) — a sponsor of the bill along with Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic) — challenging the federal ban, which could be resolved before the end of the year.
I have little doubt that New Jersey will legalize sports betting before the year is over. Will sports betting flip the switch and turn Atlantic City back into the gambling capital of the east coast? No. But, it certainly can’t hurt.
Once approved I can look at where someone could bet on sports. Would it be only Atlantic City? Local Racetracks? Internet? 800 numbers? There are plenty of options, but I don’t know enough about the New Jersey government to speculate.
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