New Jersey takes first sports bets: Gov. Murphy puts $20 on Devils to win Stanley Cup

OCEANPORT, N.J. — Let the bets begin!

On Thursday, more than eight years after lawmakers first began trying to legalize it and a week after the Legislature passed its bill, sports wagering opened in New Jersey. With a frenzied crowd, a few jubilant officials, and 21 open windows, Monmouth Park Racetrack became the first in the state to take a legal sports bet Thursday morning — with two bets placed by Gov. Murphy for $20 on Germany to win the World Cup and $20 on the New Jersey Devils to win the Stanley Cup.

"This is a huge step forward for gaming, for the [race]tracks, for the economy of the state. [Monmouth] is going to be the first to benefit," Murphy said before placing his bet. "We've got a lot of good times ahead."

It was the triumphant culmination to the Garden State's sports-betting epic, a years-long tale that took them to the U.S. Supreme Court and ended with a strike-down of the federal ban on sports wagering. The decision paved the way for expansion of a multi-billion-dollar industry in Delaware, New Jersey, and more states to come.

The opening day coincides with the first day of the FIFA World Cup, and a Phillies game starts at 1 p.m. Under the law, people in New Jersey can bet on professional and collegiate athletic events — but not any games involving New Jersey colleges or taking place at colleges in the state. Casinos and tracks can't launch online betting until 30 days after the governor's signing, but then betting via computer and cellphone will be allowed — as long as you're physically in the state of New Jersey.

John Patrick Burke, 71, of Brick Township showed up at Monmouth Park to bet on Russia in Thursday's World Cup game. "I've been out to Vegas for March Madness and to see that [type of] excitement come to Jersey is just unbelievable," he said.

Murphy's bets were followed by two from former Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak, who spearheaded the effort to bring legal sports betting to New Jersey beginning in 2009. He put $50 on the New York Giants to win the Super Bowl and $50 on France to win the World Cup.

Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, worked with Lesniak from the start to advocate for sports betting. He was confident enough after the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in December to invest another $1.5 million into the sports-betting outfit. He said he'd "always believed" wagering would become legal.

"This means survival for Monmouth Park. It means the horsemen no longer have to worry about the park closing," Drazin said Thursday from inside the grandstand. "It means 13,000 jobs, 176,000 open space and preserved acres in this state. A $4 billion industry has been saved."

BlackJack Fletcher, a gambling personality, made a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Long Island to witness the opening of the books.

"Sports are the best reality show on television. You don't know the outcome," he said. "When you put a little bit of money on it, you've got a little bit of skin in the game – even if it's just $20 – it just makes it that much more exciting."

In Atlantic City, festivities kicked off at Borgata, which became the first casino to start sports betting when it opened its books at 11 a.m. Sixers legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Senate President Steve Sweeney were on hand to place first bets among a large crowd of onlookers.

"Betting on the Eagles to repeat!" Erving said to cheers as he placed the first bet, putting down the minimum, $5, on the 8-1 Eagles for a Super Bowl win.

Sweeney put down two $100 bills on the Green Bay Packers, which has been his favorite team since he was 5 years old, he said.

New Jersey lawmakers passed the sports-betting bill last Thursday, and Murphy signed it Monday, after a delay that rankled sports-betting proponents. Politicians cast the new law as testament to New Jersey's grit, and hailed sports gambling as a coming boon to flagging racetracks and casinos.

"It was a long fight with the odds and powerful interests against us, but New Jersey spirit and determination prevailed. Thank you," Lesniak said Thursday.

The coming of legal wagering fuels hopes that the casino town is entering a resurgent era after years of casino closings and near-municipal bankruptcy. Tax revenue from the enterprise will go to state funds, with some going to the Atlantic City marketing program.

"My bet is on A.C. — 125 percent," said Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam, also in attendance at Borgata.

But others were more measured, acknowledging that the pastime likely wouldn't be a major moneymaker.

Sports betting won't be a big tax generator but is "about bringing people in to Atlantic City," Sweeney said, speaking at Borgata. Glover, the casino's president, said that it wouldn't "drive tremendous revenue to us."

At Borgata, the sports book was added to the existing race book off the entrance from a surface parking lot behind the casino. It features 100 seats, 10 betting windows and a video wall. The casino plans to build a dedicated sports book in the future.

The mood was buoyant — "a great day for New Jersey," Sweeney proclaimed.

"It brings a sense of vibrancy, and adds to the excitement that already exists in the four walls of Borgata today," said Borgata President Marcus Glover.

Of the NBA's long resistance to sports betting, Erving said: "It came down to: 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

After the celebrities and politicians, regular people lined up to place their bets. The line snaked out of the sports book room and around to the casino's entrance.

Carl Zingle, wearing a vintage Steve Carlton #32 Jersey and placed a $20 bet on the Phillies. He said he was headed to the 1 p.m. game.
"I'll be back," he said. "I'm very happy."

Mike Facciponte, 24, of Forked River, wearing a Brian Dawkins jersey, bet a total of $130 on a variety of baseball games. "I went to Vegas a couple of times. It's amazing to have it here in our home state," he said.

Wearing an Eagles tie and Super Bowl 52 pin, super fan Atlantic City Council president Marty Small Sr. proclaimed himself the first A.C. resident to place a bet: $50 on the Phillies. He said he would return to place "an undisclosed sum" on his beloved Philadelphia Eagles to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

The Supreme Court's decision has sparked a wave of celebration among gaming aficionados and touched off discussion about legalization in states across the country. New Jersey is second after Delaware to start sports betting since the high court's May 21 decision, bringing competition to the region and beating Pennsylvania to opening day.

(Previously, Nevada was the only state with sports gambling. Pennsylvania is among a handful of others lining up to start, but officials have said they are not rushing to finish regulations needed before betting can begin.)

The effort to legalize was strongly opposed by the NCAA and professional sports leagues. After the Supreme Court decision, they lobbied for concessions in New Jersey's legislation, including an "integrity fee" that would've given them a cut of profits, but they were roundly rebuked by lawmakers.

Ocean Resort Casino, opening June 28 in the old Revel casino, is building a sports book at the center of its casino, run by the William Hill company, the most prolific sports book in Vegas. Resorts is partnering with DraftKings but has not announced a start date. Golden Nugget plans to be ready by the start of the NFL season. Other casinos have not announced specific plans.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.