Sports bets legal in N.J.

AS NEW YORK lawmakers struggle to enact sports gambling legislation, New Jersey is already at the starting gate.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Monday allowing the state’s casinos and racetracks to begin taking sports bets, making the Garden State the second state after Delaware to allow sports betting since a Supreme Court decision in May cleared the way for such gambling.

Dennis Drazin, operator of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, near the Jersey Shore, said Murphy will place the first bet on Thursday.

“Today, we’re finally making the dream of legalized sports betting a reality for New Jersey,” Murphy said in a statement. He signed the bill four days after it was sent to him by the Democratic-controlled state Legislature.