Letter To The Editor: Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. on Sports Betting

This Tuesday, you’ll have the opportunity to vote on a ballot question that has overwhelming bipartisan support and will clear the path to making New Jersey the 5^th state in the country to allow sports betting. According to the American Gaming Association, in 2010, $2.76 billion was legally wagered in Nevada’s sports books.  In addition, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission estimated that illegal wagers are as much as $380 billion annually. Without a doubt, sports-betting is a multi-billion dollar industry, and, currently, only four states are allowed by federal law to benefit from legal sports wagering.  Voting “Yes” on Ballot Question 1 is the first step towards adding New Jersey to this list, and generating tax dollars for our State budget, creating jobs for New Jerseyans and breathing new life into our ailing gaming industry.

Currently, federal law permits sports betting in Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. As your Assemblyman, I sponsored legislation (ACR167) to amend our State’s Constitution to allow New Jersey to implement sports gaming at Atlantic City casinos and horse racing tracks in the state.   This legislation passed overwhelmingly, with bipartisan support.  Now it is up to the people of New Jersey to send a message to Washington D.C. that we want our State to reap the benefits of sport betting by voting in favor of Ballot Question 1.  That way, when our voices are heard and federal law is amended, New Jersey will be ready to take advantage of the benefits that sports betting will bring to its economy. 

Under the ballot proposal, bets could be placed at a casino or racetrack site on the results of professional, college or amateur sport or athletic events, except on college games that take place in New Jersey or in which a New Jersey college team participates. Illegal internet gambling sites and bookies are already profiting from illegal sports betting. By legalizing the gaming practice in New Jersey, we would produce additional tax revenue for the state, and set Atlantic City apart from competing casinos in neighboring states. Our racetracks and casinos are fighting an unfair fight against the competition and with your support; we’ll be leveling the playing field.

On Tuesday, November 8^th, I’m urging all residents to vote YES on Ballot Question 1 and vote the Column A ticket. I look forward to your support.

Very Truly Yours,

Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.

Assemblyman, 33^rd District