NJ Sen. Jim Whelan: ‘I Feel Like I Am Being Blackmailed (By Horse Racing Association)’
A measure to legalized online gambling in New Jersey has moved one step closer to reality with a 3-0 passage in the state senate. Horse racing groups have threatened a derailment of the bill after an earlier funding commitment was removed however.
Racing industry lobbyist Barbara DeMarco has hinted at possible legal action, telling the Daily Record: “Undoubtedly the racing industry will push to have a constitutional amendment.”
“I feel like I’m being blackmailed,” said New Jersey State Senator Jim Whelan, who along with Sen. Raymond Lesniak, have sponsored the online gambling leglisation. “I‘m open to discussion but I don’t like a gun being put to my head and being told, ‘You will do this or else we will blow this whole thing up.’”
New Jersey is looking to become the second state after Nevada to legalize intrastate online gambling, though lawmakers are also looking closely at multi-state alliances similar to that of the lottery platform Powerball.
Governor Chris Christie on Monday stated that he had “a great personal interest” in regulating online gambling in his state.
“We had a very good meeting with Senator Lesniak last week,” the Governor remarked. “He is working hard with us and I appreciate his hard work.“
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
