Mail
PrintSo, the four major professional sports leagues are suing the state of New Jersey for attempting to defy a federal ban by allowing sports betting within its borders.
New Jersey just doesn’t seem to care.
In the latest news, according to NJBiz.com, Sen. Raymond Lesniak is proposing that the state’s casinos and racetracks make the move to allow sports gambling this fall, where they could earn several months of profit before the court’s decision on the lawsuit.
From the story:
Lesniak said the sports leagues would be unsuccessful in getting an injunction to stop the betting while a U.S. District Court judge hears the case. This would allow the casinos and racetracks to reap six months of profits before a court ruling, Lesniak said. The leagues would have to prove that they would suffer “irreparable harm” if sports betting was allowed to advance.
“There’s no way the leagues could prove irreparable harm,” he said.
Lesniak said he has received indications that at least some of the casinos and tracks are reluctant, fearing that they could face criminal prosecution for taking the bets.
“I think they’re absolutely, totally wrong and misguided, and getting bad advice,” Lesniak said.
Most of the state’s casinos and racetracks aren’t nearly as bold and daring as Lesniak wants them to be.
Monmouth Park is the exception. A few weeks ago, Monmouth Park was the first to step up and say they’d be willing to move forward with sports betting despite the federal ban. Now, the racetrack said they could be taking bets by Nov. 1.
It just wouldn’t be your typical sports bet.
At the very least, he said, that will allow the venue to offer “free play” sports wagering, which results in non-cash prizes like casino hotel rooms or meals.
“We definitely think we can do the free play without any concern about anyone raising a fuss,” Dennis Drazin said. “And once we’re licensed — I think by the time they actually give us a license — hopefully the courts will have heard the league’s request for the injunction.”
He agreed it was unlikely that the leagues could satisfy the irreparable harm standard, so he hopes to be taking bets by Nov. 1. He added the operating group will “obey any court order, but we’re trying to gear up so that we’re in a position to actually take bets.”
