New Jersey sports wagering law blocked

Jersey has been prevented from going ahead with its plans to legalise sports betting for racetracks and casinos after the four US professional sports leagues and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) managed to secure a temporary restraining order against the bill.

The leagues and the NCAA have always provided strong opposition to the legalisation of sports betting, as they believe it could leave their respective sports open to corruption.

A sports bar at Monmouth Park Racetrack had been set to become a sportsbook and offer sports betting from last Sunday, but those plans were blocked on Friday, as US District Judge Michael Shipp granted the restraining order.

Shipp had additionally been due to judge whether his previous injunction on sports betting in New Jersey could be amended, but the request for the hearing was withdrawn by New Jersey acting Attorney General John Hoffman after the state passed its Sports Wagering Law last week.

A statement by the leagues and NCAA when they made their appeal on Monday read: “Despite its 'repeal' language, the 2014 Sports Wagering Law is a blatant attempt by the state of New Jersey to sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license and/or authorise sports gambling in Atlantic City casinos and at New Jersey racetracks.”

The temporary restraining order has been met with frustration by New Jersey, which will continue to try to implement the law.

"It's incredibly disappointing," New Jersey state senator Raymond Lesniak said. "It's very, very important to both our casinos and racetracks, so we're going to continue to pursue it."