Christie Chooses Federal Sportsbetting Path as Bill Nixed

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed a sports betting bill that could have allowed casinos and race tracks to offer this form of wagering on their grounds.  By doing so,  Christie chose to stick to federal law and said that he would not do anything to circumvent it.

Senator of bill S2250, Senator Raymond Lesniak, said that the governor had “stuck a dagger in the heart of Atlantic City and our ailing horse racing industry” by nixing his proposal.

Lesniak’s bill had sweeping support on both sides of the political spectrum, and would have allowed gambling companies to open up private operations at casinos and racetracks, without the need for state regulation.

However, Christie said that  New Jersey needed to “determine if a different approach towards sports wagering would comply with federal law.”

“While I do not agree with the Circuit Court’s decision, I do believe that the rule of law is sacrosanct, binding on all Americans,” said Christie. “That duty adheres with special solemnity to those elected officials privileged to swear and oath to uphold the laws in our nation.”

He also said that ignoring federal laws by which the state was bound was “counter to our democratic traditions and inconsistent with the Constitutional values I have sworn to defend and protect.”

Sponsors of the bill, however, believe that Christie missed an opportunity to provide a much needed shot in the arm to New Jersey’s floundering gambling industry,  in particular the racing industry.

Lesniak was more blunt Christie missing the boat. “He’s giving up,” he was quoted as saying. “And that’s sad, because he’s giving up a great opportunity for New Jersey to have the benefits from sports betting that Las Vegas has, and that are currently enjoyed by organized crime.”