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TRENTON, N.J. (Associated Press) — Gov. Chris Christie Friday signed legislation that could allow legal sports betting in New Jersey to move forward.
The measure is aimed at helping the state’s foundering casino and racetrack industries, and would partially repeal prohibitions against sports wagering in the state.
“As I’ve said all along, I am a strong proponent of legalized sports wagering in New Jersey,” Christie said. “But given earlier decisions by federal courts, it was critical that we follow a correct and appropriate path to curtail new court challenges and expensive litigation. I believe we have found that path in this bipartisan legislative effort.”
The issue, which still faces legal challenges from professional sports leagues and the NCAA, reaches back to a 2011 referendum in which voters approved sports betting.
The Legislature and governor later agreed on sports wagering legislation, but the professional sports leagues and the NCAA sued seeking an injunction, which a judge granted in 2013.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case on appeal.
The Assembly had passed the measure Thursday, after it was overwhelmingly approved earlier this week in the state Senate.
Earlier this year Christie vetoed another bill that would have repealed the state’s prohibitions against sports betting, but then seemed to reverse course, ordering the attorney general not to prosecute casinos and racetracks if they offered betting that was not regulated by the state.
The leagues criticized the move, calling the governor’s effort a “blatant attempt to circumvent” the court’s injunction. The judge in the case recently postponed oral arguments until Oct. 31.
Supporters of the new measure say it might help persuade the judge to permit betting to go forward.
