Prior to Rutgers’ huge Big Ten contest at home against Ohio State and Princeton’s Ivy Group home opener against Columbia on Saturday, a new poll released shows college football bettors in New Jersey might never have the chance to wager on their hometown favorites.
Of 552 potential voters surveyed, 45% of voters (250) opposed a constitutional amendment on November’s ballot that would allow NJ sports betting on college games held in the state or games involving state college teams, according to a Stockton University Poll by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy.
Another 40% supported (223) the amendment while 14% (76) are still undecided and 1% (3) refused to answer the question.
The poll was conducted between Sept. 17-25. New Jersey has had legal sports betting since 2018.
On July 8, a poll released by Fairleigh Dickinson University also showed that voters opposed the amendment that would allow for legal sports betting in New Jersey on local teams by a surprising 2-to-1 margin, with just 25% saying they favor the change to the state constitution.
Referendum on Nov. 2
In mid-June, the state Assembly passed SCR133 — with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 200 — to allow sports betting on in-state college teams and in-state college tournaments and events by a vote of 70-4. It would expand New Jersey gambling options.
It is now headed for a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot. New Jersey voters will be voting YES or NO on this question one month from Saturday:
Do you approve amending the Constitution to permit wagering through casinos and current or former horse racetracks on all college sport or athletic events that are held in the State?
New Jersey has numerous college teams and regularly hosts tournament events.
The state has three programs in football: Monmouth, Princeton and Rutgers. Those three universities are also home to NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs, plus five others have DI hoops: Seton Hall, Saint Peter’s, Rider, Fairleigh Dickinson and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
