A pair of New Jersey lawmakers are "working on a new plan to end a seven-year quest and finally bring legalized sports betting" to the state and do so "without regulation," according to Brent Johnson of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. The goal of the bill from N.J. Assemblymen Ralph Caputo and John Burzichelli is to "circumvent a federal ban on sports betting that has stymied" the state's "efforts every step of the way." Caputo said that he and Burzichelli are still "tinkering with the measure and plan to discuss it with 'various people in the industry.'" Technically, without regulation, the bill would "allow anyone to offer sports betting anywhere." Johnson notes "anyone, even 5-year-old children, could place a bet." State Sen. Raymond Lesniak said that he is "not behind the new legislation yet." Lesniak: "When I was growing up, I could place bets at my local grocery store. I don't think that's a good idea." Johnson notes sports law attorney Daniel Wallach "wonders if the state's end game is to pass the measure and force lawmakers" in DC to "revisit the federal ban" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/2). In New Jersey, John Brennan writes there is "more here than first meets the eye" regarding the proposed bill. It is the "latest step in a saga whose roots date back" to '09, with an "ongoing federal court battle with five major sports leagues that dates back four years." Brennan writes the bill goes toward the "so-called 'nuclear option'" in lawmaking (Bergen RECORD, 11/2). ESPN's David Purdum on Twitter wrote, "NBA players, led by their union, are looking at sports betting legalization as a commercial opportunity.
