New Jersey's sports betting bill -- expected to get final governmental approval today -- "could help keep four Atlantic City casinos in the game." The legislation would ban casinos or execs who own pro sports teams from "offering sports betting, theoretically counting out Borgata owner MGM because it also owns" the WNBA Las Vegas Aces. But under a clause in the bill, MGM "would be approved because the team generates" less than 1% of its total annual revenue. 76ers and Devils Owner Josh Harris "would get in under a clause" allowing those who own less than 10% of a casino or gambling company to "participate in sports betting." Harris’ Apollo Global Management "owns a small percentage of Caesars Entertainment, which in turn owns Harrah’s, Caesars and Bally’s." Still "on the bench" would be Rockets Owner Tilman Fertitta's Golden Nugget, which could "offer sports betting as long as Fertitta sold the basketball team within a year" (AP, 6/6).
Meanwhile, Delaware Lottery Dir Vernon Kirk said that $322,135 was "bet on sports at Delaware's three casinos Tuesday, the first day the state offered a full menu of betting options" (ESPN.com, 6/6).
