Sports Betting May Be Coming to NJ
It looks like sports betting may be coming to New Jersey in the near future. A New Jersey lawmaker recently sued to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The 1992 law restricts sports betting to four states: Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon. State Senator Richard Lesniak argues that sports betting already exists and New Jersey could really use the revenue from taxing such a large industry. The Plaintiff in the lawsuit believes that sports betting could become a $10 billion dollar a year industry in New Jersey by 2011 which could generate nearly $100 million dollars in tax revenues for the State. The Plaintiff argues that the law is unconstitutional because it discriminates against the other states while allowing four states to conduct sports betting activities.
Currently, sports betting is illegal in New Jersey. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2:
§ 2C:37-2. Promoting gambling
a. Promoting Gambling Defined. A person is guilty of promoting gambling when he knowingly:
(1) Accepts or receives money or other property, pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he participates or will participate in the proceeds of gambling activity; or
(2) Engages in conduct, which materially aids any form of gambling activity. Such conduct includes but is not limited to conduct directed toward the creation or establishment of the particular game, contest, scheme, device or activity involved, toward the acquisition or maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus therefor, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to participate therein, toward the actual conduct of the playing phases thereof, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or recording phases, or toward any other phase of its operation.
b. Grading. A person who violates the provisions of subsection a. by:
(1) Engaging in bookmaking to the extent he receives or accepts in any one day more than five bets totaling more than $ 1,000.00; or
(2) Receiving, in connection with a lottery or policy scheme or enterprise (a) money or written records from a person other than a player whose chances or plays are represented by such money or records, or (b) more than $ 100.00 in any one day of money played in such scheme or enterprise, is guilty of a crime of the third degree and notwithstanding the provisions of section 2C:43-3 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $ 35,000.00 and any other appropriate disposition authorized by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-2b.
A person who violates the provisions of subsection a. by engaging in bookmaking to the extent he receives or accepts three or more bets in any two-week period is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and notwithstanding the provisions of section 2C:43-3 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $ 25,000.00 and any other appropriate disposition authorized by N.J.S.2C:43-2b. Otherwise, promoting gambling is a disorderly persons offense and notwithstanding the provisions of section 2C:43-3 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $ 10,000.00 and any other appropriate disposition authorized by N.J.S.2C:43-2b.
c. It is a defense to a prosecution under subsection a. that the person participated only as a player. It shall be the burden of the defendant to prove by clear and convincing evidence his status as such player.
Thus, first the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act must be found unconstitutional by the courts because it treats four (4) states different than the other states by allowing sports betting there. Then, New Jersey will have to repeal the criminal laws which make it illegal to conduct sports betting in the State. We'll see if this actually happens. For additional information on this story, please see the Asbury Park Press.
