Christie Appeals New Jersey Sports Betting Ban Ruling

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 22-year-old federal law that prohibits legalized betting on sports.

The state filed its appeal last week.  It was only made public on Tuesday (February 18, 2014).

The odds are not in Christie’s favor, and the Newark Star Ledger breaks down why: About 10,000 petitions are filed with the Supreme Court every year, but the justices agree to hear about 100 arguments.

"It’s not a big number," Jeremy D. Frey, a gaming industry lawyer who has watched the case closely, said today. "You can look at the stats and it doesn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination. I just don’t think they have much of a chance of prevailing."

Four professional leagues and the NCAA filed a suit against the state to prevent New Jersey from legalizing sports betting.   On three separate occasions thus far the federal courts have ruled against the state.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com