New Jersey Files Sportsbetting Appeal with Supreme Court

This week the state of New Jersey filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court, where it is seeking to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, as it seeks to legalize sportsbetting services within its borders.

For the last three years the Garden State has been pursuing legalized sportsbetting for its residents, as the state looks to raise tax revenues and give a boost to the ailing casino industry. Voters took to the polls to legalize the activity and the matter was signed in to law by Governor Chris Christie, but a lawsuit was quickly filed by major professional sports leagues, contesting that the law violated the PASPA law, which restricts sportsbetting to all but a handful of states.

That legal case has gone decisively against New Jersey, as federal courts have ruled that the sportsbetting law does violate federal law. For their part, New Jersey claims that PASPA is unconstitutional, as it doesn't give all states equal rights. New Jersey has some support in its case, as the Attorney Generals of Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arizona have all voiced their opinions that sportsbetting should be allowed on a state by state basis.

Both New Jersey and lawyers for the plaintiffs in the case have filed their answer, and it will now be up to the court to decide whether or not to hear the case. A preliminary decision will be made next month.