U.S. Supreme Court delays decision in New Jersey sports betting case
On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court decided to delay a ruling on whether or not they will take up a challenge by the state of New Jersey in regards to a federal ban on sports betting. The court has invited the solicitor general to file a brief, which indicates that a decision may take many months to be made.
On Tuesday, the cases that the Supreme Court were going to hear were to be announced and it was expected that it would include the sports betting case of New Jersey. The state is challenging a federal law from 1992 in which sports betting is restricted to Nevada and three other states. Lawyers for the state have submitted briefs that argue the law is in violation of the Constitution as it prevents states from repealing their own laws. Several states have joined in the effort by NJ, including Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
A new solicitor has yet to be named by the incoming president, Donald Trump, so it could still be some time before a brief is filed in the matter. In the past, Trump has stated that he would not be opposed to sports betting since it is happening anyway but has yet to take a real stance on online gambling for the US.
The sports betting case for the state has a long history as voters in the state approved sports betting legalization back in 2011. In 2012, the state enacted a law that would allow betting to take place at casinos and racetracks. It was then that the professional sports leagues, including the NCAA, decided to sue so that the law would be blocked from taking effect. The leagues argued that the integrity of the sports games would be threatened and game-fixing would take place. Later on, a trial judge and federal appeals court would rule against the state on the matter.
Fast forward to 2014, Governor Chris Christie would sign a bill into law that would repeal prohibitions on sports betting at racetracks and casinos. This seemed to be a workaround for the state to move past the federal law but a federal judge of the state saw differently as well as a federal appeals court located in Philadelphia.
The Department of Justice then joined the fight and problems continued. The state now wants to see the highest court take on their case and hope for a positive outcome.
