New Jersey seems to always be in the gambling news, but lately it’s been for all the wrong reasons. There are the reports that travel and gambling in Atlantic City are down. There’s Donald Trump. There’s something called a Snookie that seems to terrorize the state or was that Mothman? Well, there’s also Governor Chris Christie, a Republican who hasn’t been very pro-gambling. When New Jersey recently proposed to bring online gambling to the state and let residents make the connection that says: online casino real money, Governor Christie delayed and ultimately vetoed the bill. Many speculated that he was worried about how it would affect his chances in the 2012 presidential race. People so expected him to run that they seem to still imagine that he’s running.
But now it looks like Christie is getting behind a measure that would increase some gambling action in the state. No, it’s not online gambling. This time its sports betting. In the next election, state residents will see a referendum on the ballot that allows them to vote yea or nay on sports betting in the state. I’m betting that gambling proponents are watching this vote to see whether it’s the right time to purpose a vote on the online gambling question. Because one thing Christie was right about – the question really should be one the state residents decide. It’s just that no one in government really seems to want to let the people speak because they seem to be worried that they might get the wrong answer.
Oh, Donald Trump – also not running for president.
