(TRENTON) – Aiming to protect and ensure the success of New Jersey’s new regulated sports betting industry, Assemblymen Vincent Mazzeo, John Armato and Bruce Land recently introduced a measure respectfully urging members of the state’s congressional delegation to stand against efforts to federally regulate sports betting.
“It’s been less than a year since New Jersey legalized sports betting, and we are already seeing the positive impact on our state,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “We’ve built a new industry that has surpassed the half-billion dollar mark, and created job opportunities for our residents while breathing new life into our racetracks and casinos. The sports betting industry is working in New Jersey; further regulation from the federal government would do nothing but threaten everything we’ve created thus far.”
The resolution (AR-214) asks members of Congress to oppose efforts to federally regulate sports betting, particularly legislation introduced by Sen. Orin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) that would require states to seek federal approval to run a sports betting program. Additionally, the bill would create a National Sports Wagering Clearinghouse for wagering data and require that sports books only use official game data from professional leagues.
“Under current state law, Atlantic City reportedly saw a total gaming revenue increase of nearly 8 percent in 2018 in part due to our sports betting program,” said Armato (D-Atlantic). “In December alone, Atlantic City casinos took in $9.3 million in sports betting revenue. If the federal government decides to impose its own regulations of sports betting, we may be at risk of losing too much of that incredible progress.”
“We’ve done the work in New Jersey to establish a successful sports betting industry that has helped strengthen our economy and boost tourism in our state,” said Land (D-Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland). “Through this resolution, we humbly ask our colleagues in Congress to protect sports betting and allow New Jersey to continue regulating the industry, rather than send us back to the drawing board to comply with proposed federal regulations.”
The resolution will head to the Assembly Speaker for consideration.