SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
New Jersey Governor Republican Chris Christie stated that he would ask the US Supreme Court to permit sports betting to take place in authorized New Jersey state casinos, after a federal appeals court said late Friday it would not rehear the Governors re-appeal for sports betting
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US professional sports leagues and the National College Athletic Association (NCAA), have previously sued the state of New Jersey for trying to permit sports betting, after Christie agreed on legislation to make all forms of sports betting legal. The professional and US amateur (college and sub-division sport associations) sporting appealed against Christie and his initiatives for sports betting on the grounds that betting/wagering on US sports would have a negativ impact of sports at grass root level.
Governor Christie has been a stern supporter of sports wagering being legalised, having argued that a 1992 federal prohibition against sports gambling is unconstitutional, in hopes of allowing Atlantic City casinos and the Monmouth Park Racetrack to offer sports betting.
Thus far the state of New Jersey has lost two rounds of court cases over its push, first in U.S. District Court and then in the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. One of the three judges who heard the Circuit Court case agreed the statute was unconstitutional, it appears that Christie’s only move left is to appeal to the high court in hopes it agrees with that lone Appeals Court judge.
“Gov. Christie has said all along this issue should be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, and that’s what he hopes will happen next,” said Colin Reed, a Christie spokesman. “He has asked the attorneys representing the state to file the necessary paperwork. The people of New Jersey voted overwhelmingly to bring sports betting to New Jersey, and the Governor agrees with his constituents and will not give up this fight.”
Four states that allowed sports betting before the federal ban passed Congress — Delaware, Oregon, Nevada and Montana
