The bid to legalize sports betting in New Jersey has been rejected by a federal appellate court.
A 2-to-1 decision against legal sports gambling was issued by the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia last August 25.
It wasn’t the first time sports betting was proposed to be legal in the state. Lawmakers in New Jersey have been trying to make sports gambling in casinos and racetracks legal since 2009.
But even though a 2012 legislation has been approved by New Jersey lawmakers, it has been turned down back in 2013—and it was turned down by the same court that has recently rejected sports betting to be legal.
The ruling was authored by Judge Marjorie Rendell and joined by the sister of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Maryanne Trump, in the majority.
Last year, Governor Chris Christie amended the legislation. State Senator Raymond Lesniak also sponsored the legalization bill of sports betting. However, the court ruled that the law of the state is a violation of PASPA or Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_and_Amateur_Sports_Protection_Act_of_1992)
The act, which was passed in 1992 by Congress, prohibits state-sanctioned gambling with the exception of Montana, Oregon, Delaware and Nevada.
Lesniak expects an appeal will be filed by the New Jersey Racing Association.
Geoff Freeman, president of the American Gaming Association said: “With Americans betting at least $140 billion on sports illegally each year, it’s clear that current law is not achieving its intended result.”
A 2-to-1 decision against legal sports gambling was issued by the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia last August 25.
It wasn’t the first time sports betting was proposed to be legal in the state. Lawmakers in New Jersey have been trying to make sports gambling in casinos and racetracks legal since 2009.
But even though a 2012 legislation has been approved by New Jersey lawmakers, it has been turned down back in 2013—and it was turned down by the same court that has recently rejected sports betting to be legal.
The ruling was authored by Judge Marjorie Rendell and joined by the sister of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Maryanne Trump, in the majority.
Last year, Governor Chris Christie amended the legislation. State Senator Raymond Lesniak also sponsored the legalization bill of sports betting. However, the court ruled that the law of the state is a violation of PASPA or Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_and_Amateur_Sports_Protection_Act_of_1992)
The act, which was passed in 1992 by Congress, prohibits state-sanctioned gambling with the exception of Montana, Oregon, Delaware and Nevada.
Lesniak expects an appeal will be filed by the New Jersey Racing Association.
Geoff Freeman, president of the American Gaming Association said: “With Americans betting at least $140 billion on sports illegally each year, it’s clear that current law is not achieving its intended result.”