On, Tuesday, November 2, New Jersey and many other states held a midterm election, voting for local government officials and ballot questions. New Jersey included questions about further legalizing New Jersey sports gambling. One question read, “allowing wagering on postseason college sports competitions held in NJ and competitors in which a NJ-based college team participates.” Lawmakers wanted to leave it up to the public to decide whether to expand the state’s sport betting law and allow betting on games held within the state.

Wagering was previously prohibited under the state’s three-year old betting law. New Jersey Lawmakers want to be able to collect revenue from the Easter regional NCAA basketball finals. The prohibiting of wagering on games held in New Jersey, involving New Jersey teams, will continue until the next election where, we assume, the question will still be proposed.

The results were close in a 57 to 43 percent race, separated by only 200,00 votes, but ultimately, the public voted to not allow the wagering to take place. This means gambling on college sporting events held in New Jersey involving New Jersey college teams will remain illegal. Luke Hulbert, Wayne Hills senior said, “It would help bring in revenue through taxes from the government which could be used to fund important things in New Jersey.”

Another proposal that was voted on is the question of whether it should be legal for “organizations to use raffle money to raise money for their own organization.” Simply put, the ballot asked voters to allow certain non profit organizations that conduct games of chance to fund their operation such as bingo or other raffles.

Voters agreed, causing the new amendment to allow groups to use their raffles and proceeds to fund their own operations. This privilege had already been put into action for veterans and senior citizens groups, due to an approved ballot question in 2013.
In a race of 64 percent to 36 percent, the public voted in favor of the legalization, allowing organizations to use proceeds from raffles and other games of chance in order to finance their operation. Many are happy by this decision, including senior Luke Kressaty, saying, “The companies should be allowed to use raffles for funding their operations…I am happy the ballot question passed in the election.”