Monmouth Park racetrack has been blocked from offering sports betting at all turns, but it hasn’t been for a lack of trying.
Now the track says it will try offering fantasy sports betting.
Track officials said they will begin offering the fantasy betting “in the near future.”
The announcement came after a federal judge ruled the state can’t partially lift a prohibition on sports betting in an effort to boost its struggling horse racing and casino industries. The state has been trying to get around a federal ban on sports betting and has lost a legal challenge to overturn the ban.
The state is now reacting to appeals court rulings in that case by privatizing sports betting—with no state oversight—at racetracks and casinos. The state feels that privatized betting is not covered by the ban.
Federal Judge Michael Shipp, however, sided with professional sports leagues and the NCAA that challenged the plan. The leagues argued the state is still regulating sports betting by limiting it to racetracks and casinos.
The state has vowed to appeal the new ruling, which could take several months.
Meanwhile, Monmouth Park has partnered with UK bookie William Hill and is ready to go on sports betting.
Dennis Drazin, an adviser to the racetrack’s operators, says their legal team is still reviewing the judge’s ruling, but is planning the fantasy sports betting.
“On its face, the Court’s ruling does not restrain Monmouth Park from partaking in this type of activity.” Drazin told reporters. “Furthermore, we intend to continue our efforts to bring sports betting to our facility.”
