New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie yesterday "made an announcement that supporters predicted would provide a quick boost" to Atlantic City casinos, the "go-ahead for New Jersey’s racetracks and casinos to offer Las Vegas-style betting on sporting events such as the NFL and NBA," according to a front-page piece by Brennan & Reitmeyer of the Bergen RECORD. Monmouth Park "may offer gamblers that chance as soon as this weekend." But Meadowlands Racetrack officials said that they are "waiting to assess the legal impact of the administration’s decision ... amid a series of long-standing court cases and challenges that appeared headed to the U.S. Supreme Court." Christie said that the focus was "on the realization that Atlantic City had to look beyond gambling and that for too long the region had relied too heavily on casinos alone as an economic engine, one now faltering as four of the city’s 12 gambling houses have closed." Monmouth Park attorney Dennis Drazin said that it will be "'interesting' to see if the NFL or other sports leagues would seek another injunction to stop the sports betting." The state attorney general prior to Christie's announcement yesterday "declared that tracks and casinos from the Meadowlands to Atlantic City could proceed with sports betting without fear of running afoul of state law enforcement officials" (Bergen RECORD, 9/9). In N.Y., Kate Zernike notes Christie's office "sought approval from a judge who had earlier blocked sports betting, creating confusion about what would be allowed, and when." The state’s racetracks and casinos "seemed to be caught off guard by the announcement -- as were federal officials and the professional sports leagues who have been fighting the Christie administration in court." Even the State Legislature's "biggest proponent of sports betting said he doubted that any casinos would allow bets until the judge had ruled" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/9).
KEEP IT CLEAN: In N.Y., David Li notes the state of New Jersey "is not opposed to sports betting, as long as there’s no action" on in-state college or pro teams, such as Rutgers, the Giants or the Jets. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak said that betting "could be a reality as soon as late October" (N.Y. POST, 9/9). However, in Newark, Claude Brodesser-Akner cited legal experts as saying that bringing sports betting to New Jersey "remains a longshot ... noting that casinos and racetracks will not want to run afoul of existing federal anti-gambling laws." Still, some casino attorneys said that they are "optimistic the action will prompt a federal court to rule in New Jersey's favor" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/9).
