While Governor Chris Christie wants to bring sports betting to New Jersey's racetracks and casinos, the four major professional sports leagues are trying to stop him.
According to NorthJersey.com's John Brennan, a lawsuit was filed on Tuesday by Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The suit cites the 1992 federal law banning sports wagering in any U.S. state, with the exception of Delaware, Oregon, Montana and Nevada. In Nevada alone, billions of dollars are wagered on pro and amateur sports every year.
“Gambling on amateur and professional sports threatens the integrity of those sports and is fundamentally at odds with the principle...that the outcome of collegiate and professional athletic contests must be determined, and must be perceived by the public as being determined, solely on the basis of honest athletic competition,” the suit states.
New Jersey has shown interest in allowing sports wagering for years. In January, Gov. Christie signed legislation that would legalize sports betting in New Jersey while noting the state would move forward with plans for sports betting despite the federal ban.
“Am I expecting there may be legal action taken against us to try to prevent it? Yes. But I have every confidence we’re going to be successful,” said Christie in May.
Wish Governor Christie was
Wish Governor Christie was the premiere of Ontario instead of McGuinty.