NJ.com – So many people I know are excited about “March Madness” and this weekend’s NCAA “Final Four” in college basketball. The tournament lends itself to wagering that results in big bucks for a place like Las Vegas. I read somewhere that their hotel occupancy rates are above 90 percent when this tournament is taking place.
Recently, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, along with Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, spoke of the benefits of having legal sports betting in New Jersey. Atlantic City could see results similar to Las Vegas, with college basketball fans from up and down the East Coast and beyond flocking to A.C. every March. It could be a real boon for the city and for New Jersey’s economy.
We all know that Atlantic City really needs a win. As more states allow gambling and casinos pop up in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware, Atlantic City is no longer the closest place for many people to place a bet. Bringing in a niche market like sports betting could give the city a new advantage and help bring back some old customers.
Although voters, the Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie have all authorized sports betting here, implementation has been blocked by federal lawsuit filed by the sports leagues.
The decision to allow sports betting in New Jersey is now up to the U.S. Supreme Court. I hope the justices realize the same thing that Sweeney, Guardian and the rest of us do: Sports betting should be allowed in Atlantic City.
