Sometime in the next two months, the Supreme Court will make a ruling on a landmark case which could open the door for a New Jersey sports betting bill, as well as other US states to legalize the activity within their borders.

While the SCOTUS decision might not be as cut and dry as some sports betting proponents countrywide would like, a pair of New Jersey lawmakers are preparing for a reality where the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the law banning sports wagering outside Nevada, is fully repealed.

Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joann Downey recently introduced a bill which creates a clear framework should the industry become legal, and includes details on how it would be regulated, where it could be offered and how much operators would need to pay to get in the game.

First and foremost, the bill would put the sports betting industry under the purview of the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), a natural decision considering that the agency already oversees the state’s land-based and online casinos.

This is much preferred to a scenario in which PASPA is only partially repealed, a decision that would put the state in the unusual position of not being able to legally police the industry. The DGE has a strong track record of protecting New Jersey gamblers, so leaving it on the sidelines could put players at unnecessary risk.

More about the possibility of New Jersey sports betting bill at NJ OnlineGambling