NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – The state of New Jersey is seeking another opinion in its efforts to get legalized sports gambling in the state.
In a court filing on Friday, Gov. Chris Christie asked for a hearing by the full 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. In September, a three-judge 3rd Circuit panel dealt a defeat to the state by ruling that New Jersey’s betting law conflicts with federal law and shouldn’t be implemented.
At the time, gambling supporters noted that one of the three judges dissented and agreed with some of the state’s central arguments.
In voluminous legal filings, attorneys representing the state have argued that a 1992 law prohibiting legal sports gambling unfairly “grandfathered” Nevada, Oregon, Montana and Delaware, which each had some form of sports gambling at the time. They claimed the law violated state sovereignty and equal protection provisions and trampled the authority of state legislatures under the 10th Amendment.
New Jersey approved a sports gambling referendum two years ago and Christie signed the law last year. But it’s been on hold since the NCAA and the four pro sports leagues sued Christie last year.
If the full 3rd Circuit upholds the ruling of the three-judge panel, the state’s last option would be to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
