iGaming Business – Lawmakers in New Jersey have passed a new bill that will allow casinos and racetracks in the US state to offer sports betting services.

The bill, which is yet to be approved by the Assembly before it is passed on to state Governor Chris Christie, was approved by a vote of 27-1.

Under the new bill, casinos and racetracks in New Jersey will be able to offer sports betting services to punters in the state under the provision that bets are placed on events outside of the state so as not to conflict with a 1992 federal law.

Christie, who earlier this year vetoed a bill that would have repealed the state’s prohibition on sports betting, announced last month that he was ordering the State Attorney General office to not prosecute casinos or racetracks offering sports wagering.

Democratic state Senator Raymond Lesniak, who authored the bill, said it will help boost business in the state’s struggling gambling market.

“Atlantic City is haemorrhaging and our racetracks are bleeding and they need the boost in revenues that this legislation will provide,” Lesniak, said according to the Associated Press news agency.

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