Sports betting temporary blocked in New Jersey

The launch of new legalized sports betting offer in New Jersey has been delayed after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the Garden State from permitting its racetracks and casinos to operate sports book without fear of prosecution.

This restraining order occurs just two weeks after Governor Chris Christie signed a sports wagering bill into law. According to a number of sources, US District Judge Michael Shipp ruled in favor of a motion filed by four major North American sports leagues including the NBA, the NFL and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. According to paperwork filed in US District Court, the sports leagues said that the bill is “in clear and flagrant violation of federal law – to accomplish what it unsuccessfully attempted to do three years ago: sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license or authorize gambling on amateur and professional sports at state-licensed casinos and horse racetracks”.

The injunction does not stop the Garden State’s racetracks and casinos from taking bets on other sports such as golf, tennis, boxing, MMA fighting, NASCAR or 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 Brazin, advisor to Darby Development, operateur of Monmouth Park Racetrack, said. The racetrack was planning on launching its offer on October 26. “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.

The US State of New Jersey plans to fight the injunction. “We continue to have full confidence in the strength and appropriateness of our position as we move forward in the litigation”, said Governor Chris Christies’s spokesman Michael Drewniak in a statement.

Source eGRMagazine & igamingbusiness