New Jersey set for sports betting showdown next month
Federal Judge Michael Shipp will decide whether to extend the temporary sports betting injunction on 20 November
The federal judge who issued a temporary injunction to prevent New Jersey casinos and racetracks from offering sports betting has set November 20 as the date for a hearing to decide whether he will extend the ban.
The showdown between New Jersey and several sports leagues, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the NFL, will take place in front of Judge Michael Shipp.
Shipp granted an injunction to prevent Monmouth Park launching its William Hill US-powered sportsbook last Sunday.
Monmouth said it was “disappointed” with the decision to grant the injunction, but was “confident” that sports betting would be fully legalised in New Jersey.
The injunction does not stop the state’s racetracks and casinos from taking wagers on other sports such as golf, tennis, boxing, MMA fighting, NASCAR and soccer.
“While we are disappointed not to be able to start this Sunday, we are confident that sports betting will be coming to New Jersey in the very near future,” Dennis Drazin, advisor to Darby Development, operators of Monmouth Park, said.
“We have prepared for this event for quite some time and have stated from the onset that we will be ready on day one. While that won’t be this Sunday, we remain committed to that promise and will be operational as soon as possible,” he added.