Beating The Odds By Senator Raymond J. Lesniak. Book review by Damien Connelly

BEATING THE ODDS

By Senator Raymond J. Lesniak. Book review by Damien Connelly

Ilike the dreams of the future better than the history of the past” – Thomas Jefferson. This quote could equally have been made by former New Jersey State Senator Raymond “ J. Lesniak. 14 June 2018 saw the end of the 11year epic battle led by Senator Lesniak. 14 June 2018 was the date the first legal wager was placed in New Jersey — at Monmouth Park. It was placed by the then New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. That first legal wager, however, was not a winning bet. When we met in New York City while I was on assignment for Sports Betting Operator and for Casino Life, Senator Lesniak informed me that it was indeed he who placed the first winning bet in the state of New Jersey — it was a bet backing a European team. This is the kind of industry history that you will uncover by reading ‘Beating The Odds’. When you read this book, you will discover how leagues including the NFL, NBA, NCAA, NHL, and MLB tried to block New Jersey legalizing sports betting. The major American sports leagues eventually came on board. There’s insightful detail about how one of these leagues “went nuclear” before it did “a quick flip-flop.” If it wasn’t for Senator Lesniak and Co, it is entirely possible that the U.S. sports betting industry today would still only be legal in a handful of states. Senator Lesniak’s determination and legal nous made a significant difference in the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) deciding the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was unconstitutional. Since SCOTUS overturned PASPA on

ABOVE: Senator Raymond J. Lesniak a 7-2 decision, the U.S. sports betting market has altered and expanded beyond recognition. The global sports betting market has been influenced in a multitude of positive ways as well since the U.S. market started to open up.

“Raymond Lesniak was the most influential person in bringing sports betting to New Jersey and other states” – Steve Sweeney, New Jersey Senate President

If you are involved in any way with the sports betting industry, Senator Lesniak’s first-hand account of what it took to legalize sports betting across America is a fascinating read — you can order your copy of ‘Beating The Odds’ at https://www.lesniakinstitute.org/ product/book/.

More than $21 billion was legally wagered on sports in 2020, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). That’s a windfall for U.S. state economies where sports betting is legal that they otherwise would not have had. As for the number of jobs created across America due to the achievements of Senator Lesniak and Co, I know not how many there are nor how many there will end up being —

they will certainly number in the tens of thousands once the U.S. sports betting market reaches maturity.

As for consumers, the successful actions of Senator Lesniak and Co will touch millions of Americans each year. Focusing only on the NFL, Super Bowl LV will see an estimated 23.2 million Americans place bets that could total $4.3 billion according to AGA research. AGA President and CEO Bill Miller commented that, “This year’s Super Bowl is expected to generate the largest single-event legal handle in American sports betting history.” All thanks to ‘Team Lesniak.’

More importantly, these wagers will be with legal sportsbooks delivering responsible and safe gambling options to American consumers. Chapter 1 of ‘Beating The Odds’ focuses on how PASPA was a “boon for organized crime and offshore Internet sites.” Senator Lesniak pulls no punches as he details certain history surrounding PASPA and specific individuals and leagues. However, due to the actions outlined in ‘Beating The Odds’, an increasing number of American jurisdictions offer legal sports betting. Again referencing the AGA’s Miller, “Responsible gaming is core to legal sports betting’s long-term success.”

In ‘Beating The Odds’, we are also educated about how the overturning of PASPA saved both the horse racing and casino industries — specifically in relation to New Jersey, although this will arguably be the case in other states as well, such as Kentucky and New York; and enabled other states across America to reap the tax, economic, societal, and environmental benefits of legalized sports betting. Fascinatingly titled ‘The Nuclear Option’, readers will also learn of the ploys Senator Lesniak and his team used (and were ready to deploy) in order to succeed against the odds.

ABOVE: Senator Raymond J. Lesniak

In The Red, White and Blue Corner…

‘Beating The Odds’ delivers insight to the reader about how and why Senator Lesniak took on the might, power, and budgets of the big American sports leagues and the U.S. Department of Justice to legalize sports betting across America. It even details how, in the early years, his legal firm worked pro bono on this case — that’s how committed to this cause Senator Lesniak was/is.

As you read ‘Beating The Odds’, you get a feel for the powerful forces Senator Lesniak had to overcome. Indeed, one quote in particular stood out for me in this booklet:

“You will NEVER overturn PASPA” – Jay Moyer, NFL General Counsel

All the sports leagues must be happy Senator Lesniak won his epic battle and did overturn PASPA. Focusing solely on the NFL, a Nielsen Sports study commissioned by the AGA estimated that, “The National Football League’s (NFL) annual revenue may increase by $2.3 billion a year due to widely available, legal, regulated sports betting… According to Nielsen Sports, greater fan engagement and viewership could boost the NFL’s total annual revenue from media rights, sponsorships, merchandise and ticket sales…”

1. this first-hand account is by the person regarded as the most influential in overturning PASPA; and 2. it uses simple and short language to communicate complex matters.

In reading ‘Beating The Odds’, you will also learn how it was a fortunate (or perhaps unfortunate – that’s for readers to decide) occurrence that triggered Senator Lesniak to take on the might and power of the major sports leagues and the Justice Department simultaneously. By reading ‘Beating The Odds,’ you will also gain insight into the parallels between snowboarding and America’s horse racing and casino industries.

‘Beating The Odds’ also provides fascinating detail on the levers Senator Lesniak uncovered that enabled him, ultimately, to successfully challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court the federal law known as PASPA. Even being a golf partner of President Bill Clinton could not offset the powerful forces Senator Lesniak faced in this complex battle. Intriguingly, there’s a section that touches on indirect interaction with the current President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden Jr. Additionally, while we are on the subject of politicians, Senator Lesniak shares with readers his first-hand account of how Governor Chris Christie “came around and helped carry the ball across the finish line.” Compelling And Commandeering The two things I like most about reading ‘Beating The Odds’ are:

ABOVE: Senator Raymond J. Lesniak

On the second theme, when you read ‘Beating The Odds’, you will learn the primary point on which Senator Lesniak and Co built their case to successfully have SCOTUS determine PASPA was unconstitutional. There’s fascinating detail on the series and timeline of the legal case and its many setbacks:

“Eight legal setbacks? I’m from New Jersey, it takes more than that to stop me” – Raymond J. Lesniak

An intriguing part of the history of the legalizing of expanded sports betting across America is that it could have started years before that first legal wager was placed in New Jersey on 14 June 2018. ‘Beating The Odds’ explains to readers the detail on how much of an uphill struggle it was to overcome a federal law supported at that time by the major sports leagues and the U.S. Department of Justice.

In recommending to you that you buy and read ‘Beating The Odds’ by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, I will close by rephrasing our opening quote: “Sports betting has a healthy future across America because Senator Lesniak changed history by not accepting the past.”

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