TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Monday reiterated his position that fantasy football doesn’t amount to gambling and shouldn’t be regulated and said a team he runs with his son is doing really well.
Christie responded in the negative to a question on his regular radio interview program on 101.5 FM about whether fantasy football should be regulated. Christie’s comments came the day Democratic state Sen. Jim Whelan said he planned to introduce a bill to regulate fantasy sports and days after Christie called out presidential debate moderators for asking about fantasy sports.
Christie said Monday a fantasy team he manages with one of his sons has a 6-1 record and he doesn’t play for money.
“No, I don’t think that’s gambling,” he said.
The governor stuck with the position he staked out during the recent Republican presidential debate that it’s a “ridiculous” question to ask candidates for president. He called a question originally posed during the CNBC debate to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ridiculous in light of national security threats and the country’s debt.
“It’s an asinine question to be asking people running for president of the United States,” he said Monday.
During the hour-long radio program, Christie also addressed a five-bill package of legislation aimed at helping Atlantic City, which is struggling along with its casino industry. Asked whether he would sign legislation sent to him by lawmakers, he pointed out he has until the Assembly returns to decide and when legislators return he will act.
Christie also addressed the state fund that pays for road and bridge work, saying everything is on the table, including a gas tax hike, but only “in the context of tax fairness for the people of New Jersey.” He has said that would mean a gas tax hike must be accompanied by cuts elsewhere.
