New Jersey’s attempt to legalize sports betting has been rebuffed after a hearing en banc by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Following a hearing in front of 12 judges, the court ruled Aug. 9 that New Jersey’s 2014 law allowing gambling on certain professional, college and amateur sports events is contrary to a federal law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The court also held that PASPA is not an unconstitutional restriction on the power of the states. Two of the 12 judges issued dissenting opinions. The en banc court affirmed an August 2015 majority opinion by a three-member panel of the court in a 2-1 split.
