New Jersey Sportsbooks will be accepting legal Oscars bets for the first time in U.S. history, potentially expanding the appeal of both betting and the awards ceremony to new audiences.
The sportsbooks in New Jersey are the first in the U.S. to legally accept bets on the premiere movie awards show, which is scheduled to take place on Feb. 24.
The expansion into the Oscars indicates the potential of such sportsbooks in states where betting is now legal. The U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for legalized sports betting on a state-by-state basis last year. While the Oscars isn’t a sports event itself, the competition for each award outcome qualifies it for this categorization of sports betting.