New Jersey Asks for Supreme Court Hearing

New Jersey is in a bit of limbo regarding its sports betting case right now. The state is trying to legalize sports betting, but is getting opposition from the leagues and NCAA. The leagues are using PAPSA – the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 – to argue against legal sports betting.

Despite that, more and more league commissioners are expressing interest in legal sports betting. The NBA’s Adam Silver is the leader in that regard.

New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone believes residents in his state are getting the shaft from the federal government. He wrote to the US Solicitor General’s office and asked for their backing to send their case to the Supreme Court. The Third Circuit Court has ruled against New Jersey on two occasions.

Rep. Pallone’s office sent out a press release that covers most of his key points.

““This case is about whether the Third Circuit accorded sufficient room to the State of New Jersey to effectuate the will of its citizens under New Jersey’s state Constitution, laws, and sovereign powers under the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” Pallone wrote. “Without the Supreme court’s review and a decision on this appeal, these areas of disagreement and conflict will inevitably grow and lead to more confusion. After all, the question of how a state authorizes sports gambling by law or compact without violating PASPA remains extremely hazy.”

Pallone also mentioned that sports betting is already taking place on a widespread basis. His point is that New Jersey should be able to make money off of that. Pallone said that $400 billion annually is wagered in the United States. And that 99 percent of those wagers are made through illegal means.

Pallone believes the Supreme Court will rule by the end of June if it will head the state’s case.