Federal Court Say New Jersey Can’t Legalize Sports Gambling

christiebridgeGovernor Chris Christie’s attempts to expand legal sports betting have failed again. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has ruled that a New Jersey law that would have allowed sports betting at casinos and racetracks violates a 1992 federal law.

The decision is a victory for The National Collegiate Athletic Association and four national sports leagues, including Major League Baseball. The association and leagues sued the state to overturn the law.

Christie partially repealed the states prohibition on sports betting in casinos and racetracks in 2014. Under the revised law, it was still illegal to bet on collegiate sporting events in the state and games involving college teams from New Jersey.

A majority of lawmakers in the state support sports betting as a way to revitalize casinos and racetracks. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a longtime supporter of legalized gambling, told ESPN the state will appeal the decision. The state has until Nov. 7 to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

Read the full court ruling online here.