New Jersey betting company files litigation against U.S. sports leagues

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Inc, owner of the Monmouth Park sportsbook, has filed litigation claiming over $150 million from US professional sports leagues and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, accusing these bodies of wrongfully blocking the legalisation of sports betting in the long and expensive struggle the liberalise the genre beyond the restrictive Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (see previous reports).

The opposition blocked Monmouth Park from taking sports wagers over a period of four years, claiming in evidence during several court actions that New Jersey would be violating PASPA.

The involvement and attitude displayed by the leagues since the overthrow of PASPA by the US Supreme Court earlier this year proved that the evidence they gave historically was false, and denied Monmouth Park substantial revenue by maintaining the sports betting ban, the filing claims.

“The commissioners falsely described to this court in meticulous detail the catastrophic consequences they swore would follow from the spread of sports betting,” the racetrack’s attorney, Ronald Riccio, said in the court filing. “None of this was close to being true.

“Behind this court’s back, each commissioner’s league and team owners made huge profits from the spread of sports betting, both on the outcome of their games and their players’ performances in their games.”

The leagues have until July 16 to file a formal response to Monmouth Park’s claim, but judging by the initial reaction they will contest the litigation, claiming it to be “meritless, if not frivolous”.

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