Sports betting in New Jersey appeal denied

New Jersey State’s long-running effort to repeal some of its own prohibitions against sports betting was denied by a panel of three United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit judges in Philadelphia by a 2-1 vote Tuesday, upholding an earlier lower-court ruling.

The court upheld the lower-court ruling saying in its opinion, the repeal violated the Professional and Amateur Sports Act (PASPA), a New York Times report said.

New Jersey believes the repeal, sponsored by Senator Raymond Lesniak, would, amongst other benefits, boost its flagging casino and racetrack industry by providing employment to some of the 10 000 people who had lost jobs in Atlantic City.

The suit, brought against the State by major league sports organisations including The N.C.A.A., the N.F.L., the N.H.L., the N.B.A. and Major League Baseball, in response to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signing off the decriminalisation of sports betting.

“We are pleased that the Third Circuit has adopted the position of the sports leagues and the N.C.A.A.,” a spokesperson for Major League Baseball said in a statement.

According to Lesniak, state attorneys will now request a hearing before the full bench of the Third Circuit court.