Milam, Albano Say Poll Shows Atlantic City Should Bet on Sports

TRENTON – Four Assembly Democratic lawmakers who have long advocated for legalizing sports wagering at Atlantic City casinos Monday, April 20 said a new Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released this morning strengthens the argument that New Jersey should seek to overturn a federal ban and allow resort gamblers to bet on pro-sporting events.
Assemblymen Louis Greenwald, John Burzichelli, Nelson Albano and Matt Milam have led efforts to pass legislation that would put the issue before voters as a General Election ballot question. Their measure (A-1909) overwhelmingly passed the Assembly in February 2008.
The poll found 63 percent of voters favor making sports-betting legal in New Jersey at Atlantic City casinos, while 32 percent oppose it.
“Sports betting already exists in New Jersey through countless office pools and illegal book-making operations,” said Greenwald (D-Camden). “This poll proves it’s far past time for us to take the blinders off and recognize that its in the state’s best interests to allow sports gaming in Atlantic City’s controlled and regulated atmosphere.”
“The only differences between Atlantic City and Las Vegas are that we have a beach and they offer sports betting,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), chairman of the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee.
“And yet our casinos lose hundreds of millions of dollars in commerce to the desert every winter simply because of Las Vegas’ ability to throw Super Bowl parties complete with legal sports books. Legalizing sports wagering would level the playing field. Obviously, most New Jerseyans realize that, too and would support this change.”
According to the poll, the support ran across party and ideological lines, with 70 percent of liberals and 56 percent of conservatives in favor of legal sports books.
The lawmakers said strong public support for sports wagering at the ballot box also would buoy a federal lawsuit filed last month by state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) that challenges the ban on constitutional grounds.
“Legal sports betting is something that isn’t just supported by a few elected officials in Trenton, but by an overwhelming number of New Jersey voters,” said Albano (D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May).
“That kind of support will be critical in making the case against the federal government’s ban on sports gaming in all but a handful of places. Moving our efforts on parallel tracks is the right thing to do.”
The Assemblymen also noted that Delaware – one of only four states where sports betting is legal – is considering allowing sports wagering at its horse racing tracks, which also feature slot machines. They said not fighting for sports gaming in Atlantic City could further weaken the resort against competition in Delaware.
“Atlantic City fuels South Jersey’s economy and is the source for thousands of jobs on the casino floors and in numerous hotels and restaurants,” said Milam (D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May). “We would be doing a disservice to the region’s working families by not fighting to keep Atlantic City positioned as the East Coast’s premier gaming and resort destination. And, as this poll shows, it’s a fight that an overwhelming number of New Jerseyans agree is worth it.”