Referendum to legalize betting on college sports fails

A statewide referendum to allow New Jerseyans to gamble on college athletics has failed; it is currently losing by a 44-56% margin.

The referendum, which was approved for the ballot by the legislature in June, would have brought New Jersey in line with the other 26 states nationwide where sports gambling is legal; New Jersey is the only one to ban it for college sports explicitly.

Its loss does not come as a major shock. Four statewide polls tested the question, and all four found it losing, albeit by different margins. No politicians strongly promoted the referendum either, and it largely faded into the backdrop of a busy campaign season.