New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed into law a bill passed last week authorizing sports betting at the state’s racetracks and casinos, and Monmouth Park in Oceanport plans to take its first sports bets on Thursday, track officials said. With the signature, New Jersey will likely become the second state to take up sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court on May 11 threw out a 1992 federal law prohibiting the practice in most states. The first was Delaware, where racetracks began taking single-game sports bets last week, under the administration of the state’s lottery division. In a statement, Gov. Murphy said that the New Jersey Racing Commission will adopt emergency regulations on Wednesday allowing the establishment of sports betting at New Jersey racetracks, freeing up tracks to obtain “a temporary waiver” to offer the bets while the regulations are formally adopted. The bill also authorizes sports betting at the state’s already licensed casinos, which have struggled over the past decade to remain relevant in the modern U.S. gambling marketplace. “Today, we’re finally making the dream of legalized sports betting a reality for New Jersey,” Murphy said. “This is the right move for New Jersey and will strengthen our economy.” Dennis Drazin, the head of the company that operates Monmouth Park, said after the legislation was signed that Monmouth will open its sportsbook on Thursday. Monmouth has already built a sportsbook, in partnership with William Hill, the British bookmaking company, which will manage the sports-betting operation. “Today is a great day for New Jersey,” Drazin said. Monmouth officials have said that they expect to offer straight bets with point spreads and money lines, along with over/under wagers. The track also plans to offer prop bets on specific outcomes within games, plus parlays, future bets, and teaser bets. For straight bets with point spreads, Monmouth plans to pay $10 out on each $11 bet. Starting in 2012, New Jersey’s legislature and former governor, Chris Christie, attempted to legalize sports betting through a variety of means only to be challenged by a consortium of sports leagues who prevailed in a series of lower court rulings. However, New Jersey took its appeal to the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in the state’s favor by tossing the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. A number of other states are seeking to authorize sports betting through a variety of initiatives, with Mississippi and West Virginia considered the likeliest to approve the practice next. In New York, legislation has been introduced to allow for sports betting, but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that the issue is not a priority for this year. Sports leagues are currently lobbying the federal legislature for a bill that would guarantee the leagues a cut of the action, but it is unclear so far if the effort will be successful.