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Pallone, LoBiondo Statement on Federal Appeals Court Decision to Reconsider Ruling on Sports Betting in New Jersey

October 14, 2015

LONG BRANCH, NJ– Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (D NJ-06) and Frank LoBiondo (R NJ-02) made the following statement on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia decision to reconsider its ruling that denied New Jersey from implementing its sports betting law. The citizens of New Jersey passed a constitutional amendment 2:1 by referendum to allow sports betting at casinos and racetracks, and the state legislature acted to give it effect.

“We are glad that the ruling – which robbed New Jersey of the opportunity to benefit from the billion-dollar sports betting industry – will be reconsidered and heard by the full court. Not only do the citizens of New Jersey overwhelmingly support legalized sports betting and the revenue that would come to the state with it, but existing federal law picks winners and losers, and is unconstitutional and arbitrary. Several states can already operate sports betting, but New Jersey has been shut out despite the will of our citizens. We remain committed to seeing sports betting become legal in New Jersey, and this reconsideration is a positive and important development.”