Pro Sports Leagues, NCAA Respond to New Jersey’s Sports Betting Appeal

The four major sports leagues and the NCAA have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court opposing New Jersey’s appeal to allow sports betting. The leagues and NCAA have been in opposition to the state’s attempts to get around a federal ban on sports betting for several years and have sued to stop sports betting legalization in the state.

As expected, the four major professional sports leagues and the NCAA have filed a brief in opposition to New Jersey’s attempt to have the U.S. Supreme Court rule on its most recent sports betting law.

The leagues and the NCAA have opposed every effort by the state to bypass a federal ban on sports betting. The state’s latest attempt would have allowed self-regulated sports betting at the state’s racetracks and casinos.

A federal appeals court struck down the law and then a federal appellate court upheld the ruling. The state then appealed to the Supreme Court—the second time it has appealed to the court to hear the issue.

The brief does not ask the court to review the constitutionality of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and simply says the court should ignore the appeal. The act outlaws sports betting in all but four states—most notably Nevada.

The National Basketball Association also joined in the response, despite league Commissioner Adam Silver’s recent support of a federal sports betting law.