One of the most highly contested issues on the agenda these days is the question of legalizing sports wagering in the state of New Jersey. Several other states are awaiting the outcome of the Jersey situation before submitting their own plans to make placing a bet on a sporting event legal.
A couple weeks ago the case was presented to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals with the state of New Jersey arguing that while wagering on sporting events cannot be eliminated… it can be controlled. And, of course, taxed. That is Governor Chris Christie’s main concern with the issue. The state stands to make a bundle off of sports wagering if they can only get this appeal through the courts.
Christie is fighting to bring sports betting to the state’s established casinos and racetracks, both of which are having trouble staying in the black as the situation now stands. There are several large wagering concerns standing ready to invest millions of dollars in New Jersey in the form of new land based casino projects should the bill pass.
At the base of it all is a 1992 federal law that limits legal wagering on sports to only four states, led, of course, by Nevada and including Delaware, Oregon and Montana. It was called PASPA which stands for the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992.
The issue here is one of fairness to the other 46 states left out of the potentially rewarding wagering revenue generated by taxing the bets. There is a staggering amount of money involved here and some states are clamoring for the sports wagering option as a possible solution to their current financial woes.
Representing New Jersey is Ted Olson who is a former U.S. Solicitor General. Olson claims that the 1992 law discriminates against the other 46 states.
As it happens, the sports leagues opposing the plan, including the NFL, the NCAA and others, have an ex-U.S. Solicitor General of their own to argue their case. His name is Paul Clemente and Mr. Clemente says that the integrity of sports is diluted when states condone betting. Oh, really? Based on what information?
Both sides presented their respective cases to a three-judge panel in Philadelphia last week but no time table was given for a decision. There is speculation that it may take months and after that there is every possibility that the issue will end up in front of the US Supreme Court.
