The Latest on the New Jersey Legislature’s effort to legalize sports betting (all times local):

5:25 p.m.

Monmouth Park Racetrack says it won’t take any sports bets Thursday night.

But the track’s plans beyond that remain unclear.

The Oceanport http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marcus-davenport-jersey , New Jersey track near the Jersey shore says it will announce soon when it plans to begin taking bets at its sports wagering lounge.

The New Jersey Legislature approved a sports betting bill Thursday, but Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy won’t say when he’ll act on it.

One state lawmaker notes that language that would have prohibited a casino or track from taking sports bets before the bill is signed was stripped from the bill before it was approved.

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5:20 p.m.

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta is thanking the New Jersey Legislature for a last-minute fix that will allow his Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City to take sports bets – just not on basketball.

Fertitta owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets, and would have been shut out of sports betting under previous versions of the bill.

But the change allows him to offer bets on other sports except for basketball.

Fertitta says he eventually hopes to persuade New Jersey to let the Golden Nuggets take bets on basketball teams other than the Rockets, which is what Nevada regulators allow.

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5 p.m.

Major League Baseball, the NBA and the PGA Tour want New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to ”fix” the sports betting law on his desk to address concerns about the integrity of betting on their games.

The leagues are seeking payments to help them police betting patterns, and want better information sharing.

They say the law passed Thursday by the state Legislature does not address those concerns.

Lawmakers rejected the integrity fee payments.

It remains unclear when sports betting might begin in New Jersey, or when the Democratic governor might act on the bill.

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4:55 p.m.

A major bookmaking company has signed a contract to offer sports betting at tracks in New Jersey and New York.

Moments after the New Jersey Legislature gave final approval to a bill legalizing sports betting, Betfair US announced it will offer sports betting at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, just outside New York City.

It will do likewise at Tioga Downs Racetrack in New York.

Betfair says it will start offering sports betting this summer and will be operational at the tracks before the NFL season begins in September.

Betfair US is a subsidiary of Paddy Power Betfair, one of the largest publicly traded sports betting companies in the world.

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4:40 p.m.

A New Jersey lawmaker says a Jersey shore racetrack is technically free to start taking bets immediately, even before a bill legalizing sports betting is signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Republican state Sen. Declan O’Scanlan says language was dropped from the bill that prohibited any sports betting facility from opening until the bill is signed.

That appears to clear the way for Monmouth Park in Oceanport to begin taking bets right away. The track has loudly wanted to begin taking bets Friday.

But its chief, Dennis Drazin Isaiah Oliver Color Rush Jersey , also has said he does not want to antagonize the governor.

It remains unclear what the track’s plans are and when the governor might act.

3:35 p.m.

The New Jersey Legislature has given final approval to a bill legalizing sports betting.

The state Senate approved the bill Thursday afternoon shortly after the Assembly approved it.

It now goes to the desk of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who hasn’t said when he’ll sign it.

Murphy’s office says the bill will get a careful review, but won’t estimate when the governor will act on it.

Monmouth Park racetrack has been particularly vocal about its desire to start taking bets on Friday.

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3:10 p.m.

The New Jersey Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that would legalize sports betting.

The bill approved Thursday now goes to the state Senate, which also is expected to approve it, and then to the desk of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. It’s unclear whether he will sign it into law.

The Assembly amended the bill to allow casinos that own more than 10 percent of a sports team to still offer sports betting, but only on sports other than those in which they own a team. That would let the Golden Nugget back in the game.

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

Under the change, the Golden Nugget could still take bets on sports including football, baseball and hockey, but not basketball.

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1:50 p.m.

New Jersey lawmakers are rethinking a law that would have banned one Atlantic City casino from offering sports betting.

The state Assembly is expected to amend its proposed sports betting law to allow casinos that own more than 10 percent of a sports team to still offer sports betting, but only on sports other than those in which they own a team.

That would let the Golden Nugget back in the game.

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

Under the change, the Golden Nugget could still take bets on sports including football, baseball and hockey Youth Martinas Rankin Jersey , but not basketball.

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12:30 a.m.

New Jersey’s proposed sports betting law is heading down to the wire.

Final legislative approval is expected on Thursday, but it’s anyone’s bet when Gov. Phil Murphy might sign it.

Despite the desire of Atlantic Giannis Antetokounmpo’s meme-worthy scowl started with a look in the mirror.

The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star was an NBA rookie then, trying to come up with a look he could flash after making a big play. Antetokounmpo thought about the glare his mother would throw his way when he misbehaved as a child. It took about a week to perfect as he struck poses in front of the mirror.

”Now it comes easy. You’ve just got to put your nose up like this,” said Antetokounmpo, wrinkling his face after a recent practice.

It can look so much more intimidating on the court.

As Antetokounmpo’s skills reach new heights, so does his confidence as he enters his third career postseason. The Bucks open their first-round series against the Celtics on Sunday in Boston.

”You don’t think. It’s just second nature. You’re just playing now,” Antetokounmpo said. ”There are points when you’re young, you’re scared to make the wrong decision late.”

This is no longer the gangly, 6-foot-11 forward who would defer during his rookie season in 2013-14. He’s a go-to player in the fourth quarter, a do-it-all forward who can ignite the crowd with a rim-rattling dunk or momentum-changing block.

”That’s why I think the best players late, I think they have that mindset. They’re not scared to take big shots, they’re not scared to turn the ball over … and they’re just in general not scared about basketball Authentic Rick Leonard Jersey ,” he said. ”It’s something that they’ve done their whole lives.”

It has been quite the journey from awkward 18-year-old rookie to NBA stardom. Former general manager John Hammond, now with the Orlando Magic, scouted Antetokounmpo in the player’s native Greece before drafting him in the first round in 2013 with the 15th overall pick.

Some NBA fans questioned the move. Freakish athleticism and a 7-foot-3 wingspan offered the promise of being a tough matchup on both ends of the floor.

Boy, did the gamble pay off .

”I think one thing that is really important is to never underestimate or undervalue the things that he does,” Bucks coach Joe Prunty said last month after the forward scored 28 points in a win over the New York Knicks.

Sometimes, it takes Antetokounmpo’s absence to make that point stick.

On April 1, Milwaukee led by 18 midway through the fourth quarter in Denver before Antetokounmpo fouled out with 3:43 left. At the time, the Bucks were up by 10 and Antetokounmpo had 18 points and 12 rebounds. They ended up losing in overtime .

Two days later, the Bucks were in another tight game at home against Boston. Playing with a sore right ankle, Antetokounmpo came up clutch after chasing down Jaylen Brown from behind, swatting what looked like an easy layup against the backboard with 53 seconds remaining. The Bucks held on for the win .

”Because my ankle hurt, I wasn’t even being `Giannis Giannis Authentic Robert Golden Jersey ,”’ Antetokounmpo recalled with a mischievous grin. ”I wasn’t sprinting down the court. I was just jogging down the court.”

Key positives for Milwaukee from that victory were runs of 11-3 and 16-4 with Antetokounmpo on the bench for rest. In crunch time, Prunty can also put three other proven scorers on the floor with Antetokounmpo in forwards Khris Middleton and Jabari Parker, along with quick point guard Eric Bledsoe.

”Just taking attention, making (the defense) know, `OK, I’m here, you guys come to me.’ If you guys don’t come to me, I’m going to go,” he said. ”If you guys come to me, I’m going to make the right pass.”

That mentality is another sign of Antetokounmpo’s growth over his five-year NBA career.

A sense of humor that borders on cheesy hasn’t changed.

Antetokounmpo the last few years has opened Bucks preseason media day by taking the microphone to deliver a cringe-worthy joke that can make teammates shake their heads.

”He was more funny back in the day when he was 18 years old,” quipped center John Henson. ”But for the most part, he’s a good dude Chargers Cheap Jerseys , a funny dude who has his own sense of humor. We love having him around.”

That scowl? It’s just for fun. He doesn’t need to show it, nor does he keep count. In fact, Antetokounmpo said, he’s trying to smile more.

”Because if you’re going to do this for 20 years, you don’t want to have 10 years of sadness and 10 years of happiness,” he said. ”You want to have as much nice moments and memories as you can, you know?”

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