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The NFL is vowing to fight a Delaware Supreme Court decision that will permit legalized sports betting in that state. They are the only state east of the Mississippi to do so.
The state Supreme Court says a proposed sports betting lottery in Delaware does not conflict with the state constitution.
In a 22-page ruling dated Wednesday, the court said the state constitution permits lotteries that have an element of skill, as long as chance is the predominant factor in winning or losing.
The court's opinion comes in response to a request from Gov. Jack Markell for its thoughts on the sports lottery, under which Delaware would become the only state east of the Rocky Mountains offering sports wagering.
The National Football League has provided the most intense opposition to attempts at legalizing sports betting in Delaware.
The NFL - possibly joining forces with other pro leagues - could try to compel the state's highest court to rule again on the issue via a lawsuit. The league sued 32 years ago after the state's first attempt at a sports lottery but lost when the court ruled "chance was the dominant, determining factor" in that betting system, according to A.J. Perez of USA Today.
The NFL has argued that sports betting is a "game of skill", not "chance".
"We will review the Delaware Supreme Court's advisory opinion on this matter," NFL spokesman Jeff Miller said in a statement. "We do not believe that promoting additional betting on college and professional athletes and games is healthy for sports."
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
