New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy placed the US state’s first legal sports wagers as betting went live at Monmouth Park last Thursday morning.
The Governor had earlier last week signed the legislation to allow sports betting following the state’s five-year legal battle.
The Monmouth Park Sports Book by William Hill is located on the first floor of the grandstand and features a 15-window betting shop as well as a sports bar and more than 40 HDTV’s featuring live events.
The launch comes five years after William Hill commenced partnering Monmouth Park in anticipation of the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which eventually came last month through a ruling by the Supreme Court.
Joe Asher, the Chief Executive Officer of William Hill US, commented on the launch by saying that they are excited to open for business at Monmouth Park. He added that it was obviously a big day for them and that a lot of people have worked extremely hard for a long time to make that day possible and he is grateful for their efforts.
Philip Bowcock, William Hill Chief Executive Officer, said that they are full of excitement about the future and that judging from the scenes in New Jersey, so are the sports fans in the US.
Ray Lesniak, former State Senator, who filed the first lawsuit to get PASPA overturned, was also present at Monmouth Park and told reporters that the racing industry is important to New Jersey. He added that they have more acres of horse farms than any station in the nation.