great first step in improving our economy by diverting taxes from sports wagering to NJ.

Just because someone gambles on sports doesn't mean they have an addiction and need help. Many people do it for recreation and with money that does not affect their families or livelihoods. It's a personal choice and this is a free country. The people with addictions are going to find ways to put bets down, whether it is through bookies or online, so legalizing it makes no difference.

You don't think people who sink endless amounts of money into scratch-off lottery cards and Mega Millions tickets are looking for the same cheap thrill? Nobody calls them degenerates though.

Billions of dollars are bet on just the football super bowl illegally every year alone. No taxes. Is everyone ignorant on this board here? These are facts. While these comments have some truth in them they are insignificant in the grand scheme of reality. The fact is that this could help solve a greater problem for the state while not creating another problem. Gambling already exists. This isn't a stimulus program designed to create fake jobs, and false hope . this is to take out tax revenue from gambling that already takes place. Should be a no-brainer. But then there are people who want to argue about the morals of gambling? Who are you? It doesn't pertain to you anyway. Just let them collect the tax and make it legal.

Let me get this straight. The National Football League argues that gambling should not be allowed on sporting events? If they took gambling out of football it would rank somewhere behind candlepin bowling in tv ratings. The NFL not only supports gambling, but does absolutely nothing to discourage the widespread publication of betting lines on its games. Gambling is nothing more than voluntary taxes. If it saves Monmouth Park and if even a few dollars find their way into the coffers in Trenton, then why not? We surely don't want the government telling us how to spend our money, do we?

Well said Mark & Todd. Gambling is a hobby fomr some and a must for others. Those who gamble regardless if its egal or not will do so 1 way of the other so lets tax it and make money for the state!

Yes, this will divert some black-market betting to government coffers and that's fine. But it will also encourage an increase in the activity, inevitably. It seems to me that if the lottery is legal (a game that's pure chance), this should be also (a game where chance is a factor but you can also take into account a team's performance and make "educated" bets).

having a limit is just not constitutional. the government cant tell someone how much they can bet as long as its done legally. if people are stupid enough to lose money then so be it. i know when to stop as the rare times i gamble in a/c or buy lottery tickets i do it for amusement. i set my own limits but having someone set it for me just wont do. with all the illegal bettings on football NFL games every week u think that would stop if this passed? no it wouldnt but some of that money would go to the state if it was deemed legal. if u set a false limit the real big time gamblers would do it elsewhere so making a worthless law would not benefit the state nor does it maky any sense.

I suppose that everyone who believes that sports gambling should be legal because "we might as well collect taxes on the gambling that's happening anyway" also believe that marijuana should be legal, right?

to KLF totally different subjects. gambling is already legal in parts of the country but pot isnt except for medicinal purposes. thats a tough debate to discuss. ill save that for another day.

Now all we need to do is get the online poker legalized. It shouldn't be a problem that the government needs to get involved in. With people playing poker on websites that are based in other countries, The government shouldn't have the right to tell me where & when I can play poker. Just another example of big brother.

Let's all sit back and watch as athletes start to cash in on the betting, and start throwing games.

The reason that there is no pro sports in Vegas is because the market doesn't support it. If an owner thought there was money in it, there would be a team.