The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the state of New Jersey’s appeal to lift a federal ban on sports betting, rebuffing an attempt to bring lucrative Nevada-style bookmaking to Atlantic City’s casinos and the state’s racetracks.
The justices did not comment in letting stand lower court rulings that struck down a 2011 state law legalizing the sector because it conflicts with a 1992 federal law that allows state-sanctioned sports betting only in Nevada and three other states where it existed prior to the ban taking effect. New Jersey missed the deadline provided in the law for legalization.
Voters in New Jersey overwhelmingly endorsed legal sports betting in a non-binding referendum in 2011. The enabling legislation followed soon after, authorizing betting at tracks and in casinos but excluding games involving New Jersey colleges or college games played in the state.
On the opposing side were the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the major professional leagues in baseball, basketball, football and hockey, and the US Justice Department, which sued in federal court to block the law from taking effect, saying betting would harm the integrity of their games.
The state’s appeal was led by Gov. Chris Christie. It argued that New Jersey was trying to limit illegal sports wagering and capture some of that money for the state treasury. New Jersey says an estimated $500 billion is bet illegally on sporting events each year.
In the meantime, the New Jersey lawmaker who wrote the original legalization bill introduced a new bill on Monday that would repeal all laws prohibiting sports betting. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak said he hopes the Justice Department won’t challenge it.
“Aren’t they selling marijuana in Colorado and Washington?” he asked. “Isn’t that against federal law?”
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