New Jersey sportsbetting legislation blocked « Casino Online Marketing

After ratifying legislation last year that authorised its casinos to offer sportsbetting, New Jersey has now been told that its efforts are illegal under existing federal legislation.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation into law in January of 2012 that would allow casinos and racetracks in the eastern state to offer punters in The Garden State wagering with some limitations on professional and amateur sporting events.

However , the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball subsequently filed a lawsuit in August against the Republican Governor in addition to David Rebuck, Director for the New Jersey Gaming Enforcement Vision and Frank Zanzuccki, Executive Director for the New Jersey Racing Commission Executive Director, claiming that the legislation went against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992.

In the latest development, Michael Shipp, United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, has now ruled in favour of the sports leagues and additionally granted permanent injunction against New Jersey implementing its intra-state sportsbetting legislation.

“PASPA was enacted to prevent the spread of legalised sports gambling and safeguard the integrity of professional and amateur sports,” read Shipp’s 45-page decision.

“The Senate Judiciary Committee has concluded that sports gambling is a ‘national problem’ that in the absence of federal legislation would spread throughout the country unabashedly.”

Owing to a brief experiment with legalised parlay sportsbetting in 1976, Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon were grandfathered PASPA, which is something New Jersey had argued was unconstitutional because it favours some states over others. New Jersey has also contended that the federal legislation presents a challenge to state rights as it ‘commandeered’ the legislative process.

But, Shipp disagreed and additionally ruled that PASPA does not violate due process and equal protection measures of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The ruling proved a disappointment to Christie.

“We believe firmly in the principles of our position on sports betting and that the federal ban is inequitable, violates New Jersey's rights as a state and is unconstitutional,” the Republican governor said in a statement. “Even the trial judge has noted that he was not likely the final arbiter in the matter. We are confident that the federal court of appeals will conclude that New Jersey should be treated equally with other states.”

Article source: http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/new-jersey-sportsbetting-legislation-blocked