New Jersey congressmen pushing sports betting on second front

One of New Jersey’s congressmen says the recent surge in companies offering fantasy sports leagues with big payouts could help the state’s stalled effort to allow legal sports gambling.

Reps. Frank Pallone and Frank LoBiondo haven’t made much headway so far with legislation they proposed in 2012, and New Jersey’s sports gambling law has been struck down in court.

During an event in New York on Monday, Pallone said the higher visibility of fantasy leagues has pushed the issue closer to a tipping point.

Supporters of legal sports gambling say the major pro leagues are hypocritical for opposing its expansion when some are partners in fantasy sports leagues.

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The leagues say the two aren’t the same. They sued New Jersey in 2012 to stop its sports betting effort.

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