Something smells bad in N.J.

[Holland Hacker]

Originally Posted by richard burch

As part of the effort to boost New Jersey’s gaming and horse racing industries, Assemblymen John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) and Ronald Dancer (R-Burlington) are sponsoring legislation that would allow Internet account wagering on horse races from bettors outside New Jersey.

Account wagering is a form of betting in which an account holder deposits money with the state Sports and Exposition Authority, or its designee, and then uses the account balance to pay for wagers.

Under current law, only New Jerseyans are permitted to establish wagering accounts for bets on in-state and out-of-state horse races through the system, either in-person or via the telephone or other electronic means such as the Internet.

The proposed changes would authorize an account wagering licensee to accept wagers on the results of horse races from residents outside of New Jersey.

Under the bill, the account wagering licensee could accept account wagers from persons who are residents of another state, provided that: The person resides in a state where pari-mutuel wagering is permitted; residents of that state are permitted to establish an account with the account wagering licensee; and the acceptance of the wager is in accordance and compliance with the provisions of the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, any other applicable federal law and the laws of that state.
Burzichelli has sponsored bills designed to help New Jersey’s horse racing and casino industries, including proposals to allow exchange wagering, increase purses at Monmouth Park and allow for boutique casinos in Atlantic City.

“This bill represents yet another effort to ensure New Jersey’s horse racing industry is strong and viable,” Burzichelli said Wednesday. “A modern horse racing industry must take into consideration all the ways in which people can participate, and that of course means bringing the Internet and other electronic means into play for those outside our state. Opening New Jersey’s horse racing industry to a wider audience is simply a smart thing to do.”

The bill (A-3498) has been referred to the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee, which is chaired by Burzichelli.

– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

This legislation, make the legislators are idiotic. Why on earth would a non-resident want to open a NJ ADW account on a platform that crashes on major days, provides no incentives to the players is beyond me. I live in NJ and only have an account because it is my only legal option. It is really sad what has happend to racing in NJ. I know there has been a downward trend in racing nationally but I would like to see how much the states's ownership of the tracks in NJ has exacerbated the decline. Monmouth was a much better track before the NJSEA took it over.

Trenton doesn't have a clue about horse racing which was evidenced by what Codey said about the track having a "bad day" based on the racing results. I think it was in the bill for combining betting pools, not sure I even understood what the point of the bill was.

It will be interesting to see how long racing actually survives in NJ, I give it an over under of 5 years.

OK enough venting for now.