Fed Judges Weigh Likelihood Of Sports Betting In NJ
By David Madden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A three judge federal appeals panel in Philadelphia continues to weigh New Jersey's efforts to legalize sports betting based at Atlantic City casinos.
Meanwhile, a push to change federal law seems to be going nowhere fast.
Congressmen Frank LoBiondo and Frank Pallone have dueling measures that would expand legalized sports betting beyond the four states where it's now approved.
Pallone's restricts the move to New Jersey. LoBiondo would allow any state that approves a voter referendum and legislative action to go ahead. He suggests Atlantic City really needs this:
"If we just start thinking about the number of people that would be drawn to town…the people who would be staying here…the people who would be purchasing food…going to events…this could be a tremendous, tremendous push for us," LoBiondo said.
But neither bill seems to be getting a lot of traction on Capitol Hill.
LoBiondo concedes the current court action is probably the quicker way to go, even though it's almost certain either the state or the sports leagues, whoever loses, will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
