Even if New Jersey loses its latest bid to tap into the multibillion-dollar sports betting industry, federal legislation could provide an avenue to legalize the activity, two congressmen said Wednesday.U.S. Reps. Frank LoBiondo and Frank Pallone were in Atlantic City touting the benefits of sports betting and calling for action on two measures that could allow wagering even if the state's court battle proves unsuccessful.LoBiondo, R-2nd, and Pallone, D-6th, have introduced separate pieces of legislation, either of which could accomplish that task. Pallone's legislation would allow sports betting specifically in New Jersey, while LoBiondo's would open up the possibility for any state, including New Jersey, to consider the practice. Both are awaiting action in the Judiciary Committee. The legislative process is a long and tortuous one that we've started on. We believe that we can keep generating interest as we move along with our colleagues, LoBiondo said during a Boardwalk news conference. If this 3rd Circuit court were to rule in our favor, this makes our jobs much easier. In fact, it eliminates our job and gets us to the finish line a whole lot sooner. Read the full article <a href="http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/lobiondo-pallone-push-for-sports-betting-in-atlantic-city/article_24fcf62c-0f2c-5031-8b1a-dd5ebae6c40b.html" >here</a>. The Interstate Wire Act of 1961, often called the Federal Wire Act , is a United States federal law prohibiting the operation of certain types of betting businesses in the United States. It begins with the text:Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. In September 2011, the US Department of Justice released to the public a formal legal opinion on the scope of the Act concluding, interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a 'sporting event or contest' fall outside the reach of the Wire Act. -- Edited by Mben on Friday 9th of August 2013 02:27:03 PM
