Bill Text: NJ AR118 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses General Assembly's support for efforts of State of New Jersey in case currently before United States Supreme Court in favor of allowing State to conduct sports wagering.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-06-05 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [AR118 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR118-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT MAZZEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses General Assembly's support for efforts of State of New Jersey in case currently before United States Supreme Court in favor of allowing State to conduct sports wagering.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing this House's support for the efforts of the State of New Jersey in a case currently before the United States Supreme Court in favor of allowing this State to conduct sports wagering.
Whereas, Since January 1, 1993, the federal "Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act," 28 U.S.C.s.3701 et seq., has prohibited states and local governments from authorizing sports wagering; and
Whereas, Under the terms of the federal law, Nevada and Delaware are the only states where sports wagering is legally permitted, and this activity has increased direct and indirect revenues to those states; and
Whereas, According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, about $3.6 billion was legally wagered on sports in Nevada in 2013, attracting an estimated 30 million visitors to that state each year; and
Whereas, It is estimated that Nevada's legal sports wagering represents less than 1% of all sports wagering nationwide; and
Whereas, According to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, illegal sports wagering amounts to about $380 billion each year; and
Whereas, The federal sports wagering ban is not effective in curbing illegal sport gambling, so that lifting the ban on sports wagering would allow state gaming enforcement agencies to properly regulate and police this activity; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey would benefit significantly from an end to the federal ban, as sports wagering at Atlantic City casinos would be subject to casino gross revenue tax and investment alternative tax, thereby generating more income for the State; and
Whereas, Furthermore, the legalization of sports wagering would enhance Atlantic City as a gaming and tourism destination; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully expresses its support for the efforts of the State of New Jersey in a case currently before the United States Supreme Court in favor of allowing this State to conduct sports wagering.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor and Attorney General of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution expresses the General Assembly's support for efforts of the State of New Jersey in a case currently before the United States Supreme Court in favor of allowing this State to conduct sports wagering.
Sports wagering is currently illegal under the "Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act," 28 U.S.C.s.3701 et seq., although when the act took effect in 1993, it grandfathered the states of Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana, and gave New Jersey one year to enact a law to authorize sports wagering. However, Nevada and Delaware are currently the only states where sports wagering is legal, regulated, policed, and taxed.
Although sports wagering is illegal under federal law, the prohibition has failed to curb that activity. It is estimated that Americans wager about $380 billion each year on sports alone, and the legal wagers on sporting events placed in Nevada amount to only 1% of that total. By legalizing sports wagering, state gaming enforcement agencies could finally properly regulate and police this illegal activity, and states could also tax it and thereby generate needed tax dollars to alleviate states' budget gaps. The legalization of sports wagering would enhance Atlantic City as a gaming and tourism destination.
