Supreme Court likely to rule states can allow sports betting
by PETE WILLIAMS
WASHINGTON ? The billions spent on legal sports betting in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. But the U.S. Supreme Court seemed prepared Monday to bust Nevada's monopoly.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey challenged a federal law that requites states to ban wagering on sporting events, though Nevada was grandfathered in when the law was passed in 1992.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is unusual because it does not ban sports gambling nationwide as a matter of federal law. Instead the act says the states cannot permit it.
Ted Olson, a Washington lawyer representing New Jersey, told the court Monday that the law violates the Constitution's protection of state's rights. "Congress can regulate interstate commerce, but it can't make the states do the work of Congress," he said.
As Christie, a Republican, watched from the courtroom's front row, a majority of the justices seemed to agree.
Related: Supreme Court to decide if more states can legalize sports betting
"This blurs political accountability," Justice Anthony Kennedy said. "The citizen doesn't know, is this coming from the federal government? Is this coming from the state government? That's precisely what federalism is designed to prevent."
And Justice Stephen Breyer said Congress has not set any clear federal policy on sports betting, other than telling the states what to do.
Another New Jersey politician, former pro-basketball player turned U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, pushed for the ban 25 years ago. He said it was needed to keep organized crime out of athletics.
But Christie said after Monday's argument session that concern, with rampant illegal betting on everything from the Super Bowl to March Madness, is laughable.
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FINALLY :0074:0008
by PETE WILLIAMS
WASHINGTON ? The billions spent on legal sports betting in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. But the U.S. Supreme Court seemed prepared Monday to bust Nevada's monopoly.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey challenged a federal law that requites states to ban wagering on sporting events, though Nevada was grandfathered in when the law was passed in 1992.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is unusual because it does not ban sports gambling nationwide as a matter of federal law. Instead the act says the states cannot permit it.
Ted Olson, a Washington lawyer representing New Jersey, told the court Monday that the law violates the Constitution's protection of state's rights. "Congress can regulate interstate commerce, but it can't make the states do the work of Congress," he said.
As Christie, a Republican, watched from the courtroom's front row, a majority of the justices seemed to agree.
Related: Supreme Court to decide if more states can legalize sports betting
"This blurs political accountability," Justice Anthony Kennedy said. "The citizen doesn't know, is this coming from the federal government? Is this coming from the state government? That's precisely what federalism is designed to prevent."
And Justice Stephen Breyer said Congress has not set any clear federal policy on sports betting, other than telling the states what to do.
Another New Jersey politician, former pro-basketball player turned U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, pushed for the ban 25 years ago. He said it was needed to keep organized crime out of athletics.
But Christie said after Monday's argument session that concern, with rampant illegal betting on everything from the Super Bowl to March Madness, is laughable.
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FINALLY :0074:0008
