New Jersey Governor Christie Opts Out of Sports Betting Suit
Citing other pressing issues including the current economic crisis, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has opted to back out of a lawsuit that promises to bring millions of dollars in revenue to the state.
But Gambling911.com saw this coming from miles away with New Jersey being rewarded the Super Bowl in 2014 as the NFL is dead set against any state legalization of sports betting, especially the online kind that NJ is proposing. The NFL in fact aggressively went after the state of Delaware late last year in order to prevent it from taking bets on NFL games.
New Jersey state lawmakers insist that the successful bid to land the 2014 Super Bowl in the state will not derail their efforts to bring legalized sports betting to NJ citizens.
State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D) said at the time of the Super Bowl announcement: "I've continued to ask the governor to sign on. It is important that he be part of our effort. We can win without him but it would be a lot easier with him on board."
In a letter sent to the U.S. Magistrate Court by Christie's camp, it was stated that "the unprecedented economic crisis and other challenges facing the state" figured into the Governor's decision, adding that he had "determined that the state's limited resources would be better utilized by focusing on other, more immediate issues facing the citizens of New Jersey."
Christie had until July 15 to join the suit.
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Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
