NJ Governor given all clear to fight state sports-betting ban
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine can join a legal challenge to a 17-year-old federal ban on state-regulated sports betting, a federal judge has ruled, dismissing attempts by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to block the move.
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR JON Corzine can join a legal challenge to a 17-year-old federal ban on state-regulated sports betting, a US federal judge has ruled, dismissing attempts by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to block the move.
The lawsuit to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1991 was filed in a federal court in March by New Jersey state senator Raymond Lesniak, Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) and three groups representing horse racing interests in the US state, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, The Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey, and the Standardbred Breeder & Owners Association of New Jersey.
The suit argues the law is unconstitutional as it discriminates against the people of New Jersey by allowing four states exempted under PASPA “ Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon – to reap tax revenue from legal sports betting while New Jersey cannot.
In July, the US DOJ moved to block Governor Corzine from joining the suit, arguing the constitutional claims the governor is seeking to advance did not belong to him and opposing his involvement on the basis that Corzine “[has] no cognisable interest in this litigation.”
However, US Magistrate Judge Tonianne Bongiovanni ordered yesterday that Corzine’s motion to intervene in iMEGA et al v Holder be granted, and that his attorneys file their complaint no later than 12 November.
iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan, the lead plaintiff in the suit, said: “It is ridiculous that the DOJ opposed the motion. We expect they will now ask the court to have all of the plaintiffs thrown out for lack of standing. It’s a waste of time and effort, but it seems they’ll do anything to prevent the court from examining this law.”
As reported on EGRMagazine.com, data provided to iMEGA by consultancy Las Vegas Sports Consultants projects that legalised sports betting will contribute at least US$56m a year to New Jersey state coffers next year if the legal challenge to PASPA proves successful.
Don’t miss out on egaming news: get our free Snapshot email.