Racetrack patrons would be permitted to place bets on special mobile gaming devices under legislation approved Friday, May 25 by the New Jersey General Assembly

. It is sponsored by Assembly Republican Ronald S. Dancer.

“With this innovation, horse race fans could place a bet and collect their winnings faster than I’ll Have Another – without leaving their seats,” Dancer, R-Ocean, Burlington, Middlesex and Monmouth, said. “Allowing race tracks to take advantage of the technology that has transformed our daily lives will improve the experience for fans and give New Jersey facilities a competitive edge over other states competing for a share of the horse racing market.”

The bill, A-2610, would update the state’s horse racing laws to specifically reference mobile gaming devices and give clear legal standing to their regulated use by the New Jersey Racing Commission. The devices would allow patrons to place bets and receive information about wagers, outcomes and other information about racing, such as viewing live horse races on iPads or iPhones.

The bill stipulates that the mobile electronic gaming devices would be permitted to operate in all indoor and outdoor areas of the racetrack, including designated areas of the Meadowlands complex, such as the American Dream, subject to agreements with facility operators and approval of the racing commission.

“This will merge some of the 21st Century into one of the oldest forms of sport,” Dancer said. “People would no longer have to break from enjoying all of the race track amenities in order to wait in line to place a bet or collect winnings as they have done for decades. This will put New Jersey at the forefront of using modern technology at the horse track.

“Horse racing had missed an entire generation of ‘dot-com’ users and electronic mobile gaming devises should be a sure bet to expand the sport’s fan base,” Dancer added.

A similar proposal allowing hand-held gaming devices at Atlantic City Casinos has been approved this year by committees in the Senate and Assembly. Nevada is the only other state to allow such devices in casinos.

Dancer’s bill has bipartisan support from Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Connie Wagner.

(New Jersey Assembly Republicans)

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