New Jersey to start licensing sports betting in January; leagues suing to stop it

ATLANTIC CITY - New Jersey is charging ahead in its effort to offer legalized sports betting despite the presence of some hefty opposition standing between the state and the goal line.

The state said Monday that it could begin issuing licenses for sports betting on Jan. 9, about a month later than it had originally intended.

But that's assuming a federal lawsuit filed by the major professional sports leagues can be overcome.

The state Division of Gaming Enforcement published regulations for sports betting on Monday in the New Jersey Register. That clears the way for casinos, horse-racing tracks or joint ventures involving both to apply for $50,000 sports pool licenses.

"With the publication of these regulations, New Jersey ensures effective regulation and oversight of sports wagering, consistent with its longstanding nationwide reputation for maintaining integrity and instilling public confidence in gaming operations," said David Rebuck, the division's director.

State officials made no mention of the biggest obstacles to their plans to offer legalized sports betting: a federal law banning it in all but four states and a federal lawsuit by the major professional sports leagues.

The NCAA, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League are collectively suing to block New Jersey's sports betting law.

Rebuck said the state is proceeding. "The Division of Gaming Enforcement will begin processing applications submitted by any interested party seeking licensure," he said. "We are confident that there will be no legal impediments; if the court finds differently, we will consider all of the options before us."

New Jersey enacted a sports betting law in January 2012, limiting bets to the Atlantic City casinos and the state's four horse-racing tracks. It is seen by supporters as a way to bring new revenue to struggling casino and racing industries and to reclaim a portion of the billions of untaxed dollars flowing to organized crime or offshore gambling operations.

In May, Gov. Chris Christie said New Jersey would forge ahead with its sports betting law despite the federal ban on it here. The governor said he expected to be sued over the plan, and proponents of the state's plan to offer sports betting say a court battle could offer a shortcut to legalizing such bets in New Jersey rather than relying on a polarized Congress to repeal the federal ban.