There would be a massive loss in the Atlantic City of New Jersey if the case advocates for the eradication of sports betting. The case has been going on for some time now and the moment of truth is about to unfold itself once the final ruling is done this month.

A brief history of New Jersey’s battle for legal sports betting

It started back in 1992 when sports league asked the Congress to pass the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) which claimed that no other state could legalize sports betting apart from Nevada which had initiated it before.

20 years later in 2012, New Jersey tried to legalize it but the sports leagues took a swift action where they forbid the act by moving to the court. In the first attempt, the state lost and this was the trend in the appeal case.

Since PASPA was unconstitutional, New Jersey went ahead in incorporating sports betting claiming that they were not under state laws but was governed by the federal laws. However, in 2014, Gov. Chris Christie claimed that sports betting would only take place casinos and racetracks.

What’s at stake?

If the state wins the case, it would promptly call for the strong partnership between Monmouth Park racetrack and British betting firm William Hill in incorporating sports betting for football which kicks off this September. In 2014, the total amount accrued from gambling was $3.9 billion with almost a half of this emanating from football betting. This explains why football is the most popular game in the state. It was followed by basketball with $1.1 billion with baseball coming in third with $722 million.

Why is the NBA suing to prevent legal sports betting if Commissioner Adam Silver has come out in favor of it?

Adam is for the sport betting legalization. Actually he demands the eradication of PASPA and the full control of gambling market be accorded to sports leagues and law enforcements. Some even argue that Adam wants some backing from other commissioners in attempt to eradicate sports betting.

The losing side can appeal the case but it would take a long time as it involves all 23 panel judges’ consideration unlike the three who would make the final call.

With fantasy sports betting legalization still an ongoing battle, the NFL has claimed that it is on the verge of expanding and this may entail initiation of a team based in Las Vegas. This comes after New Jersey appealed a case where NF, NBA, MLB, NCAA and NHL had moved to the court in 2012 to block a move by the state in legalizing sports betting. They opposed this since they claimed that match fixing especially on single betting would be frequent and hence tarnishing the fame of the game. According to Brian McCarthy the league spokesman, they were not backing of from blocking the move ever.

However, their move was faced by various problems as some representatives of various teams had other plans. Robert Kraft the owner of New England team joined hands with Steve Wynn Las Vegas casino developer in building a casino believed to be worth $1 billion next to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough back in 2011.

NFL had earlier banned the advert banners in the stadium as a way to deter any casino initiation move. However, it claimed that it would allow advertising money from casinos. The league claimed that this would be accompanied by several rules such that no logos or club marks are present on the advert and that players would receive divides from the income generated from these adverts.

There has been however partnership between fantasy firms DraftKings and FanDuel with 21 league teams, Steelers included. NFL commissioner Roger Goodwell described this as family reunion and said that fantasy sees people come together for fun as they enjoy football. McCarthy echoed these words by saying that generally fantasy football is a non gambling event that entails skills of the game.

Nevertheless, despite all this, NFL was on the front line in cancelling fantasy football conference that was scheduled for 10-12 July at the non-gambling Las Vegas site the Sands Expo. The expected in attendance included Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

The league was later involved in cautioning three Miami Dolphins players from indulging in poker events in Coconut Creek casino, Fla. This attracted criticism from events’ host Andy Slter who claimed that NFL was based on gambling.

It has been a long debate on whether the legalization of fantasy to eventually take place in New Jersey. However, before this is full considered, the judges will have to prove beyond doubt that it would cater for the interest of the game or would concentrate on making huge profits. With the ongoing trend in terms of relation between reality and fantasy betting, there is a high possibility that New Jersey will be accorded with what it desires and this would in turn be a focal point as the whole United States will be guaranteed fantasy betting.

It is however believed that fantasy betting popularity would be low in U.S as many prefer betting on real betting. According to the 1992 federal law passed by Congress, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), it was deemed illegal despite it being staged in selected outlets such as Las Vegas. This didn’t however ban fantasy betting as various states were given mandate to decide on whether to incorporate it or not.

Diehard gamblers, sports fan and betting firms have claimed that Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) a new format of fantasy sport betting is less than real betting. Their reason for this is that in order to have a potential outcome with good profit in DFS, one has to go through a learning process in attempt to achieve some statistical data of the sport. This means that those who just select teams and players without second thought find themselves losing more than they can imagine. There is uncertainty among others who believe that this is gambling as one is placing cash on unsure result with a motive of winning some extra money from it.

In New Jersey, mixed reactions have been evident for a long time now. Back in 2011, populace of the state voted in for legalization of all sports betting in attempt to increase state’s revenue from its’ main gambling city; the Atlantic City. However, the process seemed to defy federal rules and the state government decided to tighten their rules in keep betting locked up. However, this didn’t stop New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which owns Monmouth Park racetrack in Oceanside to file an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Up to now, the judges have yet to make an official statement on fantasy sports betting in New Jersey. However, many would prefer betting on real betting unlike the less informed fantasy betting. Even the president of Game Sports Networks Dan Orlow gives the state a 50/50 chance of being accorded with fantasy betting but claims that a “yes” would be much welcomed by him.

From the Suburban New York, police have made arrests of 8 people who are believed to be associated with sports betting operations as detectives were in a crack down on mob-run gambling and loan-sharking.

This was a 10 month investigation that was labelled “Operation Rock Bottom” which focused on unauthorized high-interest street loans, as well as, off-shore gambling portals.

Investigators were in a position to put into custody unauthorized gambling records, more than $750,000 and computers through a search warrant issued to them in Rockland, Bergen County, New Jersey.

Arrested parties were charged with cases of receiving money for bets and putting people who borrowed money under pressure of interest rates of 25% to make payments. They were asked to make their payments weekly and bi-weekly.

4 of those who were arrested reside in Rockland. After the ring was announced, it was realized that it was also operational in Westchester County but no further details were availed.

This gambling website gave bettors usernames and passwords to use while placing bets on football, basketball and other sports events. The charges placed towards the arrested were for monitoring the betting activities taking place on the website and collecting money from losing bettors or winners who were paying out.

Who were Arrested?

Nicholas Farese; a 51-year old resident of Clearwater Court who was charged with promotion of gambling, having in possession of records to gambling and money laundering.

Ronald Ayes is another of the arrested parties residing in South Nyack and is seventy-one years of age. He was also charged with crimes of gambling promotion, money laundering, criminal usury and gambling related records possession.

Mark Moschells a 52 year old New Jersey resident was charged with money laundering crimes and a misdemeanour crime in gambling promotion.

Other people arrested were Vincenzo Reda, Peter Reda, Anthony Moschella, John Reyes and Richard Herman. All were charged with different degrees of money laundering, gambling records possession and promotion of gambling activities.

The investigations were a success due to the efforts of different departments which include the New York and Pennsylvania State Police, Prosecutors in Bergen and Florida and NYPD Asset Forfeiture Unit.