June 14 - A lawsuit that was initiated by the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) together with Senator Raymond Lesniak to have the ban on sports betting lifted in over 40 states across the US, has received a boost of support from the Governor of New Jersey.
Governor Jon Corzine announced on Friday that he was joining a federal lawsuit which sought to lift the ban.
In the past Senator Lesniak has stated: "Sports betting in the United States in unregulated, untaxed and illegal. Rather than supporting thousands of jobs, economic activity and tourism, the federal ban supports offshore operators and organized crime."
In announcing his intention to back the lawsuit, Governor Corzine said: "Delaware's entry into sports wagering and table games is a serious threat to both the casino and horse racing industries in New Jersey. We must to everything in our power to stay competitive. We simply cannot afford to sit back and let neighboring states press an unfair advantage against us anytime, and certainly not in the midst of this global economic crisis."
Corzine is under continued pressure from the casino industry in the state as it faces declining revenues, especially in the Atlantic City area.
New Jersey lost its chance in 1991 to legalize sports betting under the then new law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. At the time, the law stated that only a handful of states could permit sports betting, and that other states had a year to pass their own legislation. At the time, New Jersey passed up on the opportunity but now wants to make changes.
"The Federal Government's prohibition on sports betting for some but not all states is fundamentally unfair," said Corzine. "There should be uniformity in the application of federal law. If one state is allowed to legalize betting on sports events, all states should be allowed the same opportunity."
