A day after the New Jersey legislature unanimously approved a bill to legalize sports betting, Governor Phil Murphy says he won’t be rushed into signing it.
Murphy says he’s giving the bill the same level of review as all other legislation that reaches his desk.
Senator Declan O’Scanlon can’t understand the delay.
“We knew it was coming. We know we’re ready to go. This is a really big weekend, and this is the height of the season. So every day a delay costs millions of dollars. Aside from the needless revenue and job damage that it does, it sends a bad message about the motivation here.”
Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso says Murphy’s delay in signing the bill is affecting people’s lives.
“The equine industry is suffering. We’re closing in Monmouth County the farms all up and down the entire county. We need the farms to stay open, to have dollars, and the only way the get those dollars is if there’s some shot in the arm to the horse race industry. And this is it.”
Senator Declan O’Scanlon says Monmouth Park was ready to start taking sports bets on what’s a busy sports weekend.
But the New Jersey Racing Commission warned race tracks their ability to be licensed for sports wagering could be jeopardized if they take those bets before the Governor signs the legislation.