The state of New Jersey has began the process of challenging a 1992 federal law that outlawed sports betting in the US. Late last year, voters approved sports betting in New Jersey, but the state must first pass the federal legal hurdle before opening sports books.
Late this past week, New Jersey learned that there will be additional legal battles to fight in their effort to end sports gambling prohibition. The four major sports groups have partnered in a new lawsuit filed to stop New jersey from moving forward with sports betting.
The actual lawsuit against New Jersey was filed back in August, when the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB filed suit against Governor Chris Christie. New Jersey then answered that lawsuit by requesting it be thrown out of court. On Friday, the leagues took their turn in court by responding the state's request to throw out the suit.
The NCAA is also involved in the lawsuit, and has gone as far as threatening to pull major championship competitions out of New Jersey should sports books become legal in the state.
Legislators answered voter approval from last year when they passed a bill that would allow sports books at Atlantic City casinos. Senator Raymond Lesniak has been the strongest voice pushing the sports betting, and it was Lesniak, along with Christie, that filed the federal suit, claiming the 1992 law was unconstitutional.
NBA Commissioner David Stern, who is on record last year claiming that he could see legal sports betting on the NBA in the future, attacked New Jersey for going after the 1992 law. Stern mentioned that the state was looking to "make a buck or two," but clearly there is more at stake than that for New Jersey.
The sports betting industry is estimated as a multi-billion dollar industry, with most of the best being placed currently either with illegal bookmakers, or at overseas websites.
Last year, several Las Vegas sports book executives estimated that the Super Bowl alone had wagers equaling over $100 million.
The NFL has long had a stance denouncing betting on their sport, although their stance has drawn criticism in recent years since the league has allowed owners to partner with local lottery operations. The NFL also runs a multi-million dollar betting business of fantasy football, where people choose players through a draft and then win or lose based on their full roster of players.
December 8, 2012
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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