So when will a bet on, say, an NFL game, finally be placed at a New Jersey casino or track?
While Monmouth Park in Oceanport offered a vague statement that it is preparing to offer sports bets “in the very, very near future” — and a legal adviser for the track said it wants to start within a month, perhaps as early as Sunday — state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a staunch proponent of legalized sports betting, said that he does not expect anything to happen until a court rules that it is legal.
Also, Rachel Ryan, a spokesperson for the Meadowlands Racetrack, said Monday that the track has no immediate plans to offer sports betting. Several casino executives echoed that sentiment or had no comment.
Atlantic City lawyer Lloyd D. Levenson, whose firm represents casinos, said he expects his clients to wait for a further court ruling before they launch sports betting but that they’ll begin setting up an infrastructure for it now.
Lesniak, though, claimed, “Victory at last! People should book their hotel rooms in Atlantic City for the Super Bowl now because there won’t be any available in February.”
The leagues and NCAA “don’t have any arguments left to make,” Lesniak added. “This is all over but the shouting.”
William Hill, which operates more than 180 sports books throughout Nevada, has already positioned itself for the legalization of the industry in New Jersey. Last year, the company struck a long-term agreement with Monmouth Park to become the racetrack’s exclusive sports betting provider. When it announced the deal, William Hill said it was ready to launch a “Las Vegas-style” sports book at Monmouth.
“One day sports betting will be legal in New Jersey. When it is, William Hill will be there,” William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher said at the time.
In a statement on Monday, Joe Asher said, “We are reviewing the Attorney General’s directive and the motion filed in U.S. District Court. Obviously, this is a significant development. Like others, we recognize that legalized sports betting is inevitable, and will be a good outcome for customers, states and the sports leagues. In light of our significant investment at Monmouth Park, we are happy that it appears racetracks and casinos in New Jersey will be taking sports bets sooner rather than later.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
