Sun Editorial: Sports betting dead … for now

Yet another court struck down hard against New Jersey’s fight for legal sports betting last week. This time, it was the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which ruled against the state’s wishes to operate legal sports betting in casinos and racetracks.

The court upheld the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which prohibits all but four states from operating or licensing sports betting. The court ruled 10–2 in favor of upholding the law, striking perhaps the last legal blow to New Jersey’s fight for legal sports betting …

… At least for now.

While New Jersey doesn’t have many, if any, more legal options to legalize sports betting in our state, it has the changing landscape of public opinion on its side.

People in this country are becoming OK with sports betting; it’s easier for them to swallow now than it was, say more than 24 years ago, when PASPA was enacted. Seton Hall University conducted a recent poll that found that 63 percent of people believe betting on sports should be legal, with 68 percent saying its legality should be decided on the state level.

The fact is that there is a lot of money at stake here, too. Nevada accepted $4.2 billion in sports wagers last year. That’s a lot of money, but it’s nothing compared to the estimated $150 billion in wagers placed each year with illegal bookmakers, who are either affiliated with organized crime rings or are stationed overseas.

New Jersey also has some powerful allies on its side. Legislators in New York, California and Pennsylvania are also trying to legalize sports betting in their states.

All this foreshadows New Jersey’s next move — a lobbying effort at the federal level to have the law changed. With the change in government scheduled for January — no matter who wins the race — it’s the perfect time to reach a captive audience.

For the sake of our state’s income, let’s hope that captive audience agrees with our state’s take on the topic.