by The Times-Standard, Times-Standard
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says a call from the National Basketball Association commissioner to join him in lobbying Congress to legalize sports betting across the nation is a “bait and switch”
Christie said during a televised interview Monday night that it was “kind of crazy” for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to ask him to help with a legalization push when Silver is part of a lawsuit blocking sports betting in his state.
“I think it”s kind of crazy for the commissioner of the NBA to say, on one hand, ”Join me governor, let”s have legalized sports gaming everywhere. But not in New Jersey right now,”” Christie said.
“What I call it, quite frankly,” he added, “is a bait and switch.”
Silver supports overturning the federal statute that prohibits most states from authorizing sports betting. He repeated his position during a podcast interview that aired Monday on ESPN.
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