Lesniak talks sports gambling; Delaware legalizes

by: Jason Springer

Wed May 13, 2009 at 03:45:00 PM EDT

Senator Ray Lesniak appeared on the ESPN show E:60 to talk about his lawsuit against the Federal Government to overturn their sports gaming ban. Here is the segment:

The same day as the show aired yesterday, the Delaware Senate passed a bill that would allow for legalized sports gambling and the Governor is anxious to sign it:

Whenever it's signed, Delaware will become the first state east of the Mississippi to allow sports wagering. It's estimated that sports betting will generate about $50 million annually for Delaware, which Markell said will help with a projected $755 million shortfall in next fiscal year's budget.

But while NJ has legislation under consideration to legalize sports betting, Federal law prohibits it:

Delaware is one of only four states in the country -- along with Nevada, Oregon and Montana -- that had sports betting laws on its books when Congress passed the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which banned states from being in the bookmaking business. Markell, whose state is facing a nearly $800 million budget deficit, hopes that bringing sports betting to his state will generate more than $50 million in the first year alone.
Delaware had a sports lottery -- basically parlay betting -- for one football season, back in 1976. It failed miserably. But for years the state legislature has been trying to bring it back to take advantage of an increased interest in gaming both nationwide and locally, especially along the condensed mid-Atlantic seaboard, where several states have gaming of some kind. However, former Governor Ruth Ann Minner opposed the idea.

And that's why Lesniak's lawsuit is so important to supporters of sports gaming. Recent state polling has shown that 63% of voters support legalized sports gambling. It will have to remain to be seen what happens with Lesniak's lawsuit and whether New Jersey can tap into some of the sports betting revenues.

Jason Springer :: Lesniak talks sports gambling; Delaware legalizes