Twenty states back New Jersey in Supreme Court battle
Officials from around the country co-sign West Virginia’s amicus brief in sports betting case
At least 20 states are backing New Jersey in the state’s Supreme Court battle to legalize sports betting.
Officials from nineteen states, including Florida, Ohio and Texas, have co-signed an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court by West Virginia.
The brief argues for the preservation of state’s rights and their right to decide themselves on sports betting.
List of states that have signed on in support of New Jersey in sports betting case in Supreme Court. h/t @michelleminton. pic.twitter.com/pyxvndl2El
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) September 6, 2017
The support of 40% of the states in the union will bolster New Jersey’s efforts to overturn the federal sports betting ban at the Supreme Court.
“When around 20 states co-sign a brief asking SCOTUS to invalidate the federal sports betting ban, maybe it’s time to return the right to decide to them,” Minton said on Twitter.
AGA chairman Geoff Freeman added: “This group of bipartisan states includes representation from every corner of the country, from states with and without gaming and includes signees from state AG’s offices, as well as governors’ offices.
“It also includes the president of the National Association of AGs, both co-chairs of the NAAG gaming committee, and chair of the Conference of Western Attorneys General.
Notably, it also includes the state of Utah, a state that does not have gambling, and is encouraging the federal government to get out of the way.”
New Jersey was already considered a favourite to win the case given that 70% of cases in the last five years that have been taken up by the US Supreme Court have been reversed in favor of the party that sought action.
Last year that percentage ticked even higher, with 83% (45 of 54 cases) overturned.
A number of briefs have already been filed supporting New Jersey, including submissions from sports law professors Ryan Rodenberg and John Holden, the AGA, as well as Congressman Frank Pallone.
"Gaming Industry Files Amicus Brief with #SCOTUS Detailing Impacts of Failing Federal #SportsBetting Ban" https://t.co/BLHPhAsg2R
— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) September 5, 2017
Today I filed amicus brief w #SCOTUS supporting NJ's sports betting case-time 2 let democratic process in NJ decide outcome of sports gaming pic.twitter.com/xUV5DLm0px
— Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) September 5, 2017