Did U.S. Supreme Court just boost hopes for N.J. sports betting?

TRENTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday gave new hope to New Jersey’s years-long effort to legalize sports betting — and to the prospect that such wagering could soon be allowed throughout the country under incoming President Donald Trump. In an unexpected move, the nation’s highest court delayed issuing a decision on whether it will… Read the rest of this entry »

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If casino vote fails, should N.J. put video lottery machines at racetracks?

TRENTON — A state lawmaker has a backup plan if New Jersey voters reject next month’s ballot referendum to bring casino gambling to the northern part of the state: Installing slot machine-like gaming at the Garden State’s racetracks. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo said Monday that should the referendum fail — as polls predict it will — he… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. loses again in quest to bring sports betting to state

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out New Jersey’s sports betting law, once again blocking the state from expanding its gambling options to augment Atlantic City and the horse-racing industry. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled that the state’s law violated a 1992 federal ban on sports betting, the Associated… Read the rest of this entry »

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Bill introduced to put northern New Jersey casinos on 2016 ballot

HACKENSACK, N.J. — A casino could open in the Meadowlands sports and entertainment complex outside New York City as soon as 2017 if New Jersey voters approve a referendum next November allowing for two casinos in the northern part of the state. Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Democrat, announced Friday that he has introduced legislation that… Read the rest of this entry »

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Atlantic City Race Course racetrack closing down Jan. 16

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Race Course will close down “permanently” next week, the track’s owners said in an online statement. Greenwood ACRA said the last day for simulcasting and to cash winning tickets will be Jan. 16. Winning tickets may be cashed after that date at Vineland OTW on South Delsea Drive. Joe Wilson,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Kyrillos and Lesniak Fast Track Sports Betting Legislation

Sen. Joe Kyrillos

Senators Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) and Ray Lesniak have teamed up to sponsor legislation that will counter the professional sports leagues latest attempts to block sports betting in New Jersey.

The bill, which will be introduced during the Senate’s next session, would explicitly abolish language in state law that prohibits sports betting, a move that would reinforce the state attorney general’s effort to lift the injunction preventing the state from moving forward on plans to allow casinos and racetracks to accept wagers on sporting events. The measure would also prohibit the transport of sports-betting equipment across state lines and set an age requirement of 21 years old.

Last month acting Attorney General John Hoffman issued a directive that instructed law enforcement not to prosecute sports betting at racetracks and casinos.  The Christie Administration asked U. S. District Judge Michael Shipp to rule that New Jersey is not violating federal law by decriminalizing sports betting  and allowing private entities to operate and regulate the betting.

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Horse Parade in Freehold on Saturday

There will be a parade of horses in Freehold on Saturday as the 3rd annual Open Space Pace and Festival of Horses kicks off at 10am.

The free, all day event starts with a parade past the Hall of Records and continuing to Freehold Raceway.  At the racetrack, there will be educational exhibits, amateur horse races, under-saddle races, and many more fun events for all ages. The standard race card will begin at 12:30pm. Between races, we will have live music and family-friendly entertainment. After the races there will be a concert and fireworks.

The Open Space Pace seeks to highlight the relationship between the horse and open space in New Jersey. The Open Space Pace is a non-profit corporation seeking 501 (c)(3) status, formed to create an annual event at Freehold Raceway to celebrate the New Jersey State Animal, the Horse, and all of the people that work with this great animal. This event will raise necessary funds for nonprofits that work with horses and other non-profit organizations involved in the promotion of open space.

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Atlantic City’s winning formula

Is anyone surprised that New Jersey’s efforts to revitalize Atlantic City are failing?

The news that AC’s latest hope for revival, Revel, is on the verge of bankruptcy and foreclosure is no shock.   As Trump’s multiple bankruptcies over the years demonstrated, casino lenders are the biggest losers, next to bussed in seniors lured by a free roll of quarters, in AC.

Vice has always been the key to Atlantic City’s economic viability.  For good reason.  The place is a dump.  You have to drive through a swamp to get there.   It is very inconvenient.  The lure of doing something enjoyable that is forbidden elsewhere has been the key to Atlantic City’s economy since the days of Nucky Thompson.

Now that legalized gambling is available in more convenient places and liquor is legal most everywhere, Atlantic City is doomed, unless it comes up with a new vice to make available.

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Exodus of Perretti Farms Stallions Creates Challenge for New Jersey’s Horse Racing Future

MANALAPAN,  NJ – November 30, 2012 — The loss of New Jersey stallions to slots-enriched  programs in other states is now a reality.

Perretti  Farms in Cream Ridge, NJ has announced that it has moved two of the harness  racing industry’s premier stallions to Pennsylvania for the 2013 breeding  season.

Muscles  Yankee and Rocknroll Hanover will be relocated from Perretti’s 1,000 acres of  prime farmland in Upper Freehold Township across the state line to Newtown, PA  to take advantage of the casino-enriched purses in Pennsylvania, especially the  Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program.

The  New Jersey Sire Stakes program, which for three decades was the model for other  states and provinces, is now one of the weakest because of the paucity of purse  money.

New  Jersey is no longer competitive, putting more than 170,000 acres of equine  farmland in jeopardy,” said Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association  President Tom Luchento.  “Without a healthy breeding program, the stallions  and broodmares will move – have moved — to adjoining states where they are  flushed with the cash from casinos and racinos [racetracks with casino-style  wagering].

“Not  only is the preservation of farmland at stake, but also more than 10,000 jobs  currently filled by tax-paying residents who are ill-equipped to change careers  and will end up on welfare rolls,” Luchento added.

Trenton  continues to focus on ways to improve Atlantic City and other businesses which  provide fewer jobs, while the horseracing industry gets pushed aside,” Luchento  said.  “They have tried to Band-Aid the problem with a few short term  solutions.  Meanwhile, the wound continues to grow, and the decision by  Perretti Farms is a pure product of that injury.

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Monmouth Park Will Remain Open Through 2012

State officials and representitives of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association came to terms on an agreement that will keep Monmouth Park operating through 2012.

Bob Jordan has the story at Captial Quickies.

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