New Jersey sports betting bill signed by Governor Christie

iGaming Business – New Jersey governor Chris Christie has signed a new bill to partially repeal the US state’s prohibition on sports betting.

The bill was last week was approved by the Assembly by a vote of 27-1 but required Christie’s signature in order to move to the next stage.

Under the bill, casinos and racetracks in New Jersey will be able to offer sports betting services to punters in the state under the provision that bets are placed on events outside of the state so as not to conflict with a 1992 federal law.

Monmouth Park Racetrack could become the first facility to offer such wagering services on October 26.

Christie, who earlier this year vetoed a bill that would have repealed the state’s prohibition on sports betting, announced last month that he was ordering the State Attorney General office to not prosecute casinos or racetracks offering sports wagering.

Democratic state Senator Raymond Lesniak, who authored the bill, said it will help boost business in the state’s struggling gambling market.

“It will be a lifeline to Atlantic City casinos and for the horse racing industry, creating jobs and economic opportunities that will serve the city and the state for years to come,” Lesniak said in a statement.

Christie’s approval of the bill comes despite opposition from the country’s four major professional sports leagues and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which last month filed a court challenge against the bill.

The challenge, which was also supported by the US Department of Justice, branded the attempt as ‘astounding,’, ‘specious’ and a ‘blatant violation’ of a previous court order.