Pro leagues, NCAA file legal opposition to stop New Jersey sports betting

The NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and the NCAA filed a court challenge to the state of New Jersey’s attempt to offer legal sports gambling.

The NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and the NCAA filed a court challenge to stop the state of New Jersey’s attempt to offer legal sports gambling, reports the Associated Press. 

Three weeks ago, New Jersey governor Chris Christie issued a directive allowing betting at casinos and racetracks, as long as it was not state-regulated.

But a 1992 federal law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act bans sports gambling in all states except Nevada. The sports leagues called New Jersey’s effort to allow betting "astounding," "specious" and a "blatant violation" of the law.

"Defendants' latest arguments are nothing more than a blatant attempt to circumvent this Court's injunction and the federal law that it prohibits defendants from violating," the leagues wrote.

The filing says that New Jersey violated the law because New Jersey sees sports gambling as a state-regulated industry. The argument also included that since casinos and racetracks are regulated by the state, offering sports wagering in New Jersey would amount to having it regulated by the state too.

A district judge expected to rule on the matter next week. 

- Scooby Axson