New Jersey lawmakers unanimously backed legislation legalizing sports gambling in the Garden State on Thursday and Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign it — but not this week.
State casinos and racetracks had hoped to begin taking bets as soon as Friday, despite observers cautioning the bill could get caught up in budget talks between Murphy and lawmakers.
Those predictions appeared to come true.
“Governor Murphy looks forward to closely reviewing the sports-betting legislation that was recently passed by the Legislature,” said Murphy spokesman Dan Bryan.
“The governor has long been supportive of New Jersey’s right to allow sports betting and he wants to ensure that the proposed regulatory scheme is fair and reasonable.”
Murphy’s office added it does not expect to sign the bill “this week.”
The delay comes amid a debate over the state’s budget, in which sources told The Star-Ledger the bill could become a bargaining chip.
The paper described the talks as “tense.”
Jersey casinos had hoped for a quick signature to cash in on the huge crowds expected for simulcasts of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.
New Jersey is set to become the second state to legalize sports wagers outside Nevada following Delaware, where wagering began Tuesday.