The second day of GiGse started off strong, with a number of delegates showing up bright and early to attend the sportsbetting panel featuring Dan Spillane, VP and Assistant General Council for the NBA, Adam Krejcik of Ellers Research, Senator Lesniak on pre-recorded video and moderated by popular gaming lawyer Jeff Ifrah.

Spillane started off by telling the audience the NBA does not support the way New Jersey is pursuing sportsbetting in the state and the NBA thinks the fight for sports betting should be happening in congress, not in the courts.

In response to the NBA’s opinion, Lesniak agreed its not the best way to go about it, but nothing is happening in congress- “the NFL has a lockdown on Congress” he says- and unregulated sportsbetting is happening now in New Jersey, run by organized crime or offshore operations.  The only other option New Jersians have at the moment is to fly to Vegas to place a bet and its simply not fair, he said.

“I don’t disagree with what Senator Lesniak has to say”, said Spillane.  “Its largely in line with our view, where we disagree with him is how you get there”.  Spillane understands the Senator is under pressure to make sportsbetting happen now, but says the current process is a shortcut- the NBA thinks its better to take it to Congress even thought the process will take longer.