On your mark, get set, waiting for the ‘go’ on sports bets

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The first full day after New Jersey legislators approved a bill to legalize sports betting began with no one actually offering it yet.

But that could change by the end of the day on Friday, depending on whether casinos and racetracks are willing to move on their own and ignore the state’s Democratic governor, who has given no indication of when he might act on the bill.

All eyes are on Gov. Phil Murphy now that the state Legislature unanimously passed the bill Thursday to allow sports betting three weeks after winning a U.S. Supreme Court case that cleared the way for them and all other states to do so.

Technically, casinos and tracks are free to take bets now. But none has voiced willingness to act before the governor does.