Sports Ban Lawsuit Not Supported By New Jersey Governor

After nearly a six month delay and two extensions, Governor Chris Christie, has told the New Jersey Federal Court that he will not support a legal fight seeking to overturn a statewide ban on sports gambling.

State Senator Raymond Lesniak filed the lawsuit last year seeking to overturn a 1992 law that prohibits sports betting in 46 states across the United States, arguing that the ban “unconstitutionally restricts states’ rights under the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution”. Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon are the only states where sports betting is legal.

While the Governor has expressed his support for sports betting as a way to narrow revenue losses from the Atlantic City casino market, he told the judge this week that he could not support the lawsuit or invest any of the states resources on a “legal longshot”.

Lesniak said that he was disappointed with the Governor decision not to back the suit but would proceed in hopes that the lawsuit could undo a “past wrong” and open the door for voters to pass a referendum allowing the state’s casinos to partake in sports wagering, possibly raising $100 million a year for the state coffers.