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In the first two months of 2021 alone , New Jersey generated more than $ 2.3 billion in total gaming revenue from casinos , poker and sports wagering – with 92.5 percent coming from online betting . The Garden State is now the third largest jurisdiction for online gaming in the world , behind the United Kingdom and Germany . It leads the nation in sport betting , grossing $ 10 billion in wagering last year .
“ Never in a million years did I think I would be involved in this ,” Pascrell said . He grew up in a political household . His dad is Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr ., a Democratic lion among the state delegation , who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 . For nearly 15 years he has commanded a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee .
Like most successful and enduring elected officials , the elder Pascrell had a grassroots start , serving first as the local school board president . As his prowess and popularity grew , he was elected to the state Assembly , mayor of Paterson and finally Congress — each office strengthening and expanding his political base .
His son , who is known as BP3 , was destined to follow his footsteps . Pascrell graduated cum laude from the Eagleton Institute of Politics and Public Administration at Rutgers University and went on to receive his law degree from Seton Hall Law School . He began his career working for former Congressman Herb Klein and Gov . Jim Florio .
His resume touts his tenure as Passaic County counsel ( when he drafted the county ’ s first ethics code ),
Bill Pascrell , III addresses a conference on gaming in Atlantic City sponsored by the Princeton Public Affairs Group .
advisor to U . S . Senators Jon Corzine , Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez and in recent years counsel to Gov . Phil Murphy ’ s transition team .
Pascrell ’ s insider knowledge of government , plus the rock-solid relationships he has with politicians and elected officials across the state , evolved into a career as a lobbyist . He became a partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group — the state ’ s top-ranked firm . All the Atlantic City casinos were among his clients . But a cold call back in 2009 ended up costing him the casino clients , while immersing him into the online gaming industry . iMEGA ( Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association ) wanted to retain Pascrell . The
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Pascrell worked with iMEGA and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to legalize betting on sports and horse racing .
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