National Basketball Association

New Jersey back in court in fight to legalize sports betting

Published Mar. 17, 2015 8:45 a.m. ET

foxsports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The fight over legalized sports gambling in New Jersey has moved back to a federal appeals court.

Attorneys representing New Jersey, the four pro sports leagues and the NCAA argued in front of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The leagues and NCAA sued in 2012 to stop New Jersey from implementing a law allowing sports gambling. Currently, gambling on individual sporting events is legal only in Nevada.

Tuesday's proceedings focused on whether New Jersey's removal of prohibitions against sports gambling and allowing it at casinos and racetracks constituted state authorization. The leagues argued it does and thereby violates a 1992 federal law.

Attorneys for New Jersey argued the state is merely following a 3rd Circuit ruling from 2013 that said it can repeal its own laws.