Pro sports leagues fight NJ sports betting

As expected, four major professional sports leagues and the NCAA have filed a motion in US Federal court to block New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s move towards allowing sports betting at casinos and racetracks in the State (see previous reports).

The filing was presented in terms of U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp’s order that all opposing motions be submitted by September 29, 2014 to assist him in making his decision on reassessing non-New-Jersey-state-regulated sports betting.

Christie is asking Shipp for “clarity” on his February 2013 ruling that upheld the sports betting ban but taking into consideration the view of a Third Circuit Federal Appeal Court suggestion that the state could still repeal or amend its own sports betting laws.

NJ Advance Media, who provide content, advertising and marketing services to NJ.com and The Star-Ledger publications, confirm receipt of an e-mail from Major League Baseball spokesman Michael Teevan confirming the filing of a brief.

New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak, a staunch supporter of online gaming and sportsbetting, told NJ Advance Media he is coming at it from a different angle and wants the attorney general to withdraw his motion while he [Lesniak] submits a revised bill that would repeal the anti-sports betting law completely.

Two points in the new version of Lesniak’s bill include outlawing the transportation of sports betting gaming equipment over State lines and an age restriction allowing play only from 21-years and over.

Dennis Drazin, legal adviser to Monmouth Park Racetrack, commenting on the filing of the opposition brief said: “There’s going to be a court battle but I think we will prevail.”

Drazin believes the associations should get on board and negotiate a slice of the action instead of fighting to block it.

“If they wanted to come to the table and have a conversation, we’d be happy to sit down with them,” Drazin told NJ Advance Media , “but if the court decides in our favor, it’s unlikely that we’d [still] have that conversation.”

A hearing in U.S. District Court is scheduled for October 6, 2014.