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Sports Betting Leads to New Jersey Hypocritical Gambling Bust
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY --
Trenton law enforcement officials conducted a raid Friday to arrest operators of a sports betting ring. Police served a search warrant at Rossy's Supermarket and arrested the owner, Martin Jaquez, for running an illegal gambling operation.
New Jersey lawmakers are attempting to bring legal sports gambling to the state, but the raid involves more than just enforcing the letter of the law until it is changed. Even if the national ban on sports betting is overturned as a result of a New Jersey lawsuit, the state legislature has only expressed interest in allowing Atlantic City casinos operate the popular gambling form.
In fact, if examples set in other states follow, raids on illegal sports books may actually increase if sports betting is legalized. Pennsylvania began a massive police crackdown on incidental gaming, even at hallowed spots like VFW bars and lodges, once the state had a piece of the action with legalized slots.
Some gaming analysts have noted it seems government officials have no concern over the rights of freedom belonging to the public. Gambling to them is simply a means of increasing revenue, and is only allowed when the government gets to "wet its beak," in Mafia terms.
Police not only arrested the store owner, but also three patrons suspected of being customers of the sports book. They also took $5000 in cash, a seven-year-old Hummer, and a flat-screen TV, none of which had any visible connection to gambling than being at the suspected location.
Perhaps police felt that a supermarket has no reason to have that amount in cash, although the number seems small. Or perhaps an old Hummer and nice TV indicate unexplainable opulence to law enforcement. One thing is for sure, sports betting will remain highly illegal, unless the operator is giving government its protection money.
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