Lesniak Trying to Push Through Sports Betting Bill

New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak is persistent if nothing else. While he and the state wait for the Supreme Court’s announcement Monday, he is also moving forward with another bill. The Supreme Court is expected to announce whether it will hear New Jersey’s case for legalized sports betting. The state would allow betting at New Jersey casinos and racetracks.

Lesniak took to Facebook to announce his latest effort to allow sports betting in the Garden State.

“My sports betting ally, Assemblyman Caputo, and I will begin a campaign to get legal sports betting for New Jersey in time for the start of the professional football season or at least for the Super Bowl,” he wrote. “The new industry, which will generate thousands of jobs and more than a hundred million tax revenues for the state treasury has already been approved in by the US Court of Appeals in its decision to reject my legislation because it was limited to casinos and racetracks.

“Nevada’s sports book win is $150 million/year. NJ will easily best that number by multitudes.

“Why should Nevada be the only state to benefit from legal Sports Betting? It shouldn’t be. Currently, organized crime sports betting rings and offshore internet sites are the only beneficiaries.”

Lesniak isn’t too positive Monday’s Supreme Court will be in the state’s favor. So he decided it was best to have a plan B.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be out of office this year. But Lesniak has already said he will run for the spot. So even if the state suffers another setback, a sports betting proponent could be in charge. Most experts agree that sports betting will be legalized at some point. It’s a question of when. Lesniak is hoping that it is sooner than later. But that remains to be seen.