States Rule Regarding Sports Betting Laws

While the world has successfully embraced the comfort of online gambling, here in the United States only four states allow the option to customers: Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The gaming laws are very lenient in New Jersey, especially since recent implementation of changes to existing New Jersey gambling laws. With Atlantic City home to the world’s first casino resort, the addition of online casino and poker games can now be accessed by residents throughout the state. 

There are many existing international partnerships with physically located casino license holders to ensure players have a wide array of casino poker room options available online. Even sports betting is now available to online players in New Jersey, expanding the playing venues and choices. Now a new online operator is coming to the New Jersey gaming scene, with their Unibet NJ promo code offerings well worth investigating.

The recent law (A4111) legalizing sports betting in New Jersey was signed on 11 June 2018 by Governor Phil Murphy, marking the end of long and costly courtroom battles against all the top sports leagues who opposed legalization. It was the 14 May 2018 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court which overturned a federal ban against sports betting which opened the door. The 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was found to be an unconstitutional attempt by the federal government to tell the states what to do. (Involved cases are Christie et al v. NCAA et al 16-476; and New Jersey Throughbred Horesmen’s Association v. NCAA et al 16-477.)

“The legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make,” Justice Samuel Alito, a New Jersey native, said in the opinion of the court. “Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own.”

Now the race is on as New Jersey implements legislation to allow location and online sports betting at casinos and racetracks under the Casino Control Commission and Division of Gaming Enforcement regulations. Bettors would have to be 21 years old and betting on any high school or collegiate sporting event in New Jersey, including any event involving a New Jersey college, would be strictly prohibited.

“This will attract a younger generation of folks to go to Atlantic City and stay there,” said former state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union. He called the decision, “a savior for casinos and racetracks.”

“Not just for hours to play the slots, but to watch the sporting events,” Lesniak said. “Throughout the year. They’ll dine there. They’ll rent rooms there. Shop there. The same thing for the racetracks. It will bring activity and revenue to racetracks.”

Here are some interesting statistics coming from the American Gaming Association (AGA), a leading trade group for the casino industry.

For 2017, American sports fans were estimated to wager $36.5 billion just on Major League Baseball (MLB) games during the year. Of the estimated $36.5 billion wagered, $35.4 billion – or 97% – will be placed illegally. Overall, Americans wager an estimated $150 billion a year on sports illegally, with only an $4.5 billion place through legal channels.

Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the AGA, said the ruling was “a victory for millions of Americans who want to bet on sports in a safe and regulated manner.

“It’s now possible for states and sovereign tribal nations to create a sports betting market that will protect consumers, preserve the integrity of the games, empower law enforcement to fight illegal gambling, and generate new revenue for states, tribes, sporting bodies, broadcasters and many others.” 

References

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/05/jersey_winsloses_its_bet_as_supreme_court_allowsre.html

https://www.americangaming.org/

https://playinglegal.com/new-jersey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act_of_2006