 Federal gambling ban on sports should end
It is unfair to allow sports betting in some states and make it illegal in others such as New Jersey.
If Congress intended to ban betting on sports, it should not have given an inch and allowed a few states to legally take bets. Now, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, has grounds to protest that the federal government is violating the uniformity requirement in federal interstate commerce regulations.
Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon legalized sports betting by a 1994 federal deadline, while New Jersey officials failed to act. A 1992 federal ban prevented late-comers from joining the club.
Yet, as state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, recently pointed out, that doesn't mean people aren't betting on sports outside the four states where this gambling is legal. It simply means that those are the only four states that can take advantage of gambling proceeds to benefit their residents. We agree with Lesniak, Congress shouldn't stop other states who want to bring this gambling above ground and make it pay off for their residents.
New Jersey's casino industry provides vital funding for senior programs. Still, Gov. Jon Corzine has proposed raising co-pays for a state prescription-drug program for seniors. With additional gambling revenues, maybe seniors could be spared these higher costs.
Sports betting also would help the state's struggling casino industry, which already was in the head winds of competition with Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York gambling sites even before being battered by the economic down turn. The New Jersey gambling industry could use another draw for gamblers. From an economic and law-enforcement standpoint, it makes sense to bring sports betting out of the shadows.
By limiting sports betting to a few states, Congress has not restricted the activity. It has only made it harder for states to police illegal bets or benefit from the proceeds. It doesn't make sense. We agree with Lesniak. Congress should lift the ban. But Corzine shouldn't file a federal lawsuit and invest taxpayers' dollars to change the law, as Lesniak urges. Instead, the state's congressional delegation should be asked to push for this change from within Congress. In this tight economy, New Jersey's federal lawmakers likely will find colleagues from other states willing to support their efforts. That is the way to go.
CourierPostOnline.com
May 24, 2008 |