New Jersey lawmakers refuse to shop for into the NFL's fantasy world by which sports betting is non-existent, as they note the gambling is already occurring, only without taxation or benefit to the state.

New Jersey lawmakers are trying to find a public referendum to pass an amendment to the state constitution to be able to allow legal sports betting at Atlantic City casinos. The legislators say NFL opposition to regulated sports gambling is hypocritical.

NFL spokesman Timothy McDonough told a public hearing in Atlantic City that legal betting on league games could change public confidence within the integrity of results.

"Mistakes are made throughout the game, either by the ref or by players," he said. "BUT IF mistakes are made, to a less rational one who is placing a bet, a mistake becomes a fix."

But lawmakers refused to be hypnotized by the NFL  stance, declaring the billions which can be bet annually at the NFL illegally, and the power to put bets in Las Vegas.

State Senator Jim Whelan said the NFL and its network partners constantly check with the betting line, and gambling references are rampant among league coverage. Senator Ray Lesniak, a pacesetter in pushing for legal sports betting, says the NFL is driven by gambling and bets on its games.

Even if the amendment to permit legal sports betting passes, the federal ban on sports gambling should still block New Jersey operations. But a lawsuit claims that permitting sports wagering in Nevada but not elsewhere is discriminatory, and seeks to have the ban removed.

Published on April 5, 2010 by EdBradley

Read More... [Source: Sports Betting News]