In an earlier entry, here, I talked about sports betting and how New Jersey lost out on their chance to be one of only five states where it is legal. New Jersey and the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City have made the news again.
It’s not sports betting, but it does involve betting and it does involve sports - basketball to be exact. Executives at the Borgata Casino Resort and Spa have told the Associated Press that they have received permission from the New Jersey gaming regulators to hold a contest of skill in the casino this March 21 where players shoot free throws for cash. It is the first of many skill-based events planned to let gamblers take more control over the outcomes of their bets. The restrictions against sport betting in NJ do not apply because, similar to poker, bettors are gambling against each other, not the house as in blackjack or slots.
For a $20 buy-in, contestants will compete in 90-second rounds for the right to play in the final round of sixteen in a bracket format. The top final four finishers will split $10,000 with half that going to the winner. Yes, you do need a player’s card to participate. This will be the first game of its kind offered by a licensed US casino according to New Jersey officials.
Free throws will be shot from a 15-foot distance, at a 10-foot high basket, using a regulation size ball. Anyone 21 or older can play - even professional athletes. If someone from the NBA takes a chance to risk a $20, the term March Madness, so familiar to those of us who follow NCAA basketball every year, may take on a whole new meaning.
If you think you’ve got what it takes, you can read the official rules here, or call 609-317-1000 to reserve your spot.
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