Lawmakers in New Jersey recently approved a measure that allows the State Senate President Steven Sweeney to join legal action over a federal ban on sports betting in the state. Senator Ray Lesniak sponsored the resolution and a suit was filed last March that challenged the eighteen year old ban. The ban limits sports betting to Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana.

Shelia Y. Oliver the Assembly Speaker has also joined the lawsuit. During a floor debate at the meeting, Lesniak commented that he would rather take on the court challenge himself than have the state’s attorney general do it.

Advocates for sports betting say that adding the option would increase state revenue and bring additional tourism to Atlantic City. The Governor of the state Chris Christie has been supportive of sports betting but last week he stated that he is waiting for a report about the state’s sports and gaming scene as well as entertainment totals before he will make his decision.





- 2010-02-25