New Jersey sports betting back on the agenda

Appeals court grants re-hearing of sports betting bill, Pennsylvania lawmaker tables legislation seeking to legalize sports books in the state

Sports betting is back on the agenda in New Jersey after a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the state’s request for a re-hearing in its on-going three year battle with the major sports leagues. [private]

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals announced yesterday that the majority of active judges voted in favor of the re-hearing, overturning its 25 August ruling in favor of the leagues.

A date for the re-hearing has yet to be set and will be listed at the courts convenience, but the decision opens the door for other states looking legalize and regulate the activity.

New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone said he was glad the ruling “which robbed New Jersey of the opportunity to benefit” from sports betting had been overturned.

“Not only do the citizens of New Jersey overwhelmingly support legalized sports betting and the revenue that would come to the state with it, but existing federal law picks winners and losers, and is unconstitutional and arbitrary,” he said in a statement.

“Several states can already operate sports betting, but New Jersey has been shut out despite the will of our citizens. We remain committed to seeing sports betting become legal in New Jersey, and this reconsideration is a positive and important development,” Pallone added.

News of the court’s decision came just hours before Pennsylvania lawmaker Rep. Nick Kotik tabled a bill seeking to legalize sports betting at the state’s land-based casinos, if PASPA is overturned.

“This introduction comes at an interesting time,” Kotik said in a statement.

“While our state budget remains in limbo, I would welcome further discussion on bridging a compromise plan with expanded forms of gaming.”

Sports betting is legal in just four US states under PASPA – Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon.

But a growing number of states are looking to get in on the action, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California, in a bid to boost state tax coffers.