It’s game on for sports betting from New Jersey, and perhaps the rest of the nation as well.
The state of New Jersey won its US Supreme Court case, as a majority of justices declared that the national ban on sports wagering is unconstitutional.
More on NJ’s backstory sports betting and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act here. Previously, single-game wagering was legal in the US only via the Nevada sports gambling industry.
Here is the conclusion of the Vast Majority opinion:
The legalization of sports gambling requires a significant policy choice, but the choice isn’t ours to create. Congress can control sports betting directly, but if it elects not to do so, every State is free to act by itself. Our job is to translate the legislation Congress has enacted and decide whether it’s consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not. PASPA”regulate[s] state authorities’ regulation” of the citizens. …. The Constitution gives Congress no power. The judgment of the Third Circuit is reversed.
The court said that it reversed the decision of Appeals. Full opinion here.
SCOTUS impacts on sports betting The real world software of the verdict:
New Jersey can now move forward with its own plans to legalize wagering. Some gambling centers in the state have indicated it could be just a matter of weeks before sportsbooks are operations. William Hill has stated previously it would be live within weeks in Monmouth Park.
West Virginia sports betting and Mississippi sports betting are also prepared to move forward with legislation on the books.
So can Pennsylvania, that legalized sports wagering in 2017. A PA sports gambling rollout there is up in the air, but could come later this year.
Sports gambling legislation progressing in a number of nations can take effect immediately upon passage.
New Jersey seems set to proceed with legislation to govern sports gambling, now that PASPA has been gone. Its initial law is what amounts to a”partial repeal” of its sports betting prohibition, together with unregulated wagering capable to take place at the country’s casinos and tracks.
The New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement, that will oversee sports betting in the country, had no comment regarding the conclusion from SCOTUS today.
A Fast timeline of this case New Jersey enacted a law in 2014 where it partially repealed its sports gambling ban. That law was an attempt to allow the state’s casinos and horse betting paths to provide sports wagering by operating on a federal law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. That law prohibits single-game wagering outside Nevada sports betting.
The NCAA and the major US professional sports leagues — NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — and all the NCAA filed lawsuit to prevent the law from taking effect. The leagues have standing under PASPA to bring suits which authorize sports betting.
Over the following three Decades, New Jersey dropped in both federal district court and the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals. New Jersey then appealed the case to the US Supreme Courtin June. The Supreme Court agreed to listen to New Jersey’s allure in the summer of 2017.
Oral arguments took place in December; several believed the hour of dialogue between justices and counsel went well for New Jersey.
More from the sports betting decision
The decision in the event clocked in at 49 pages. Six justices joined the majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito. It had been joined by:
Chief Justice John Roberts
Justice Anthony Kennedy
Justice Elana Kagan
Justice Neil Gorsuch
Justice Clarence Thomas
Justice Stephen Breyer agreed with the majority in a separate view, while justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented. Breyer also joined the dissent in part.
The top notch takeaways
The vast majority opinion is pretty unequivocal in saying that PASPA is unconstitutional. Here’s the quick digest of what SCOTUS actually said about PASPA in terms of the law:
When a Condition partially or completely repeals old legislation banning sports gambling schemes, it”authorize[s]” those approaches under PASPA.
PASPA’s provision prohibiting state authorization of sport betting strategies violates the anticommandeering rule.
PASPA’s provision forbidding state”licens[ing]” of sport gambling schemes also violates the anticommandeering rule. It issues a direct order to the state legislature and suffers from the exact same flaw as the prohibition of state consent. Thus, this Court need not decide whether New Jersey’s 2014 law violates PASPA’s antilicensing provision.
No supply of PASPA is severable from the terms directly at issue.
The bottom line: PASPA is history.
Alito’s takeaways
Alito gives us a short history of gaming in the US and PASPA before getting to the questions of law which were placed in front of the courtroom.
Alito stated the idea that Congress had in mind what NJ did — a partial repeal — is dubious:
The Third Circuit could not say that, if any, partial repeals are permitted. Respondents and the United States of America tell us that the PASPA ban on state consent allows complete repeals, but past that they identify no obvious line. It’s improbable that Congress intended to enact such a nebulous regime.
The state had argued that PASPA commandeered the nation into keeping its prohibition on the novels. Along with the court, through Alito, agreed.
The PASPA provision at issue here–prohibiting state authorization of sport betting –violates the anticommandeering rule. That provision unequivocally dictates what a state legislature may and may not do.
Reaction to the NJ sports gambling case
Here is some response from corners:
American Gaming Association
“Today’s decision is a victory for the millions of Americans who seek to wager on sports in a secure and regulated way. According to a Washington Post survey, a strong 55 percent of Americans think it’s time to end the federal ban online sports betting. Today’s ruling makes it possible for states and autonomous tribal nations to give Americans what they want: an open, transparent, and responsible market for sports betting.
Through smart, efficient regulation this new market will protect consumers, preserve the integrity of those games we all enjoy, empower law enforcement to fight illegal gambling, and generate new revenue for states, sporting bodies, broadcasters and many others. The AGA stands prepared to work with all stakeholders — states, tribes, sports leagues, and law enforcement — to create a new regulatory environment that capitalizes on this chance to participate fans and boost local economies.”
NFL
The NFL’s longstanding and unwavering dedication to protecting the integrity of our game remains absolute. Congress has long-recognized the possible harms posed by sports gambling to the integrity of sporting contests and the people confidence in these events. Given that history, we intend to call on Congress again, this time to enact a core regulatory frame for legalized sports betting. We also will work closely with our teams to make certain that any state attempts that move forward in the meantime protect our lovers and the integrity of our game.
NCAA
“Today the United States Supreme Court issued a clear decision that PASPA is unconstitutional, reversing the lower courts that held differently. While we are still reviewing the decision to understand the overall implications to college sports, we’ll correct sports wagering and championship policies to align with the direction from the court.”
NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver:
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court opens the door for states to pass legislation legalizing sports betting. We remain in favor of a federal framework that would offer a uniform approach to sports betting in states that choose to allow it, but we’ll stay active in ongoing talks with state legislatures. Regardless of the details of any future sports gambling law, the integrity of the sport remains our greatest priority.”
And the players’ association:
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court will significantly impact our sport — indeed, all sports in this country. The NBPA is going to frequently together with another sports unions, work to make certain our players’ rights are protected and promoted as we venture into this new territory.”
Major League Baseball
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court will have deep effects on Major League Baseball. As each state considers whether to let sports gambling, we’ll continue to seek the appropriate protections for our sport, in partnership with other specialist sports. Our main priority is protecting the integrity of the matches. We will continue to support legislation that promotes air-tight partnerships and coordination between the nation, the casino operators, and the governing bodies in sports toward this goal.”
And the players’ association:
“The Court’s decision is monumental, with far-reaching consequences for baseball players and the game we love. From complex intellectual property inquiries to the most basic issues of gamers safety, the realities of widespread sports gambling must be addressed and thoughtfully to prevent putting our sport’s integrity in danger as conditions continue with legalization.”
PGA Tour
“After the Supreme Court’s ruling today, the PGA TOUR reiterates its support of the law of sports gambling in a safe and responsible way. We think that regulation is the best method of ensuring integrity in competition, protecting customers, engaging fans and creating revenue for government, leagues and operators. We remain aligned with the NBA and MLB in this area, and we are going to continue with our collective efforts to work with legislators, operators, regulators and others in the industry on regulation which serves the interests of all involved.”
MGM
The no. 2 man under MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren talked to Bloomberg:
“We believe in the subsequent two years to 3 years, we’re 10 to 12 states that are mature and ready to activate that,” MGM President William Hornbuckle said. “We will be there. We will participate in it. We bring technology. We bring awareness. And frankly in this area, we bring trust”
888 Holdings
Itai Frieberger, CEO of 888:
“888 has been keeping a very close eye on regulatory developments in america and welcomes today’s announcement as a significant step forward in the possible regulation of the US market. The capacity for sports betting in the united states is important and, since the sole operator at all three controlled US states, we believe 888 is uniquely positioned to exploit the potential growth opportunities in the US marketplace that today’s judgment opens up.”
Rep. Frank Pallone
Pallone is a Congressman from New Jersey who has championed sports betting bills at the federal level:
“The Supreme Court’s ruling is a win for New Jersey and the rest of the nation. PASPA was obviously unconstitutional, along with the ban on sports betting has rightfully been reversed by the Court. I’ve long believed that New Jersey should have the opportunity to proceed with sports betting. Now the Supreme Court has struck down this unlawful and confusing law, now is the time for Congress to maneuver the GAME Act forward to ensure that consumer protections are set up in almost any nation that decides to implement sports gambling.”
Rep. Dina Titus
Titus represents Nevada in Congress.
“Today the Supreme Court has affirmed states’ rights when it comes to sports gambling and opened up the door for regulated sports betting in states throughout the nation,” stated Representative Titus. “A controlled market is obviously better than an unregulated one. As the agent for Las Vegas I have observed the success of this booming, regulated sports betting market in Nevada. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act has spawned a $150 billion yearly illegal sports gambling market that lacks consumer protections, is ripe for manipulation, fuels other illegal activities, and jeopardizes the integrity of sport leagues.
In the forthcoming weeks, I will be working with key stakeholders and industry experts to help educate my colleagues on what this implies for their states and what they can learn from the golden standard set in Nevada. Allowing countries and tribal sovereign governments to legalize sports betting could boost local markets, increase state revenues, and even better protect both customers and the market, with Nevada showing how. Las Vegas will still be the best destination for sports betting, and Nevada can export its expertise. The Supreme Court now also sends a clear message to the Department of Justice that can be applied to some other states’ rights issues like bud.”
New York
This is Sen. John Bonacic, who is sponsoring legislation to legalize wagering in his nation:
“New York has been preparing for this moment since as far back as 2013 and we’ve stayed proactive in expectation of this decision by the Court. The Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee held a public hearing in January that brought together stakeholders from throughout the gaming spectrum to discuss this issue in depth.
Since that moment, I’ve introduced legislation that has passed committee and proceeded to have productive discussions concerning the issue. I’m confident that working with my colleagues in both the Senate and Assembly, we can have a bill ready for Governor’s signature by the end of the session.”
Pechanga Tribe
“We see sports betting as a potential amenity that would complement our many offerings. Now the Court has ruled, we anticipate participating in a conversation with fellow tribal leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to find out whether there is a path forward for sports gambling in California.”
California Nations Indian Gaming Association
Chairman Steve Stallings:
Moving ahead it will take a change to the California Constitution to allow any form of sports wagering. In doing so, we’d advise the country to proceed slowly and carefully and analyze all angles as it relates to sports gambling. As the state of California weighs the choice of whether to allow for the practice of sports wagering, we strongly request that tribes have a place at the table in all discussions surrounding this problem.
In addition, we wish to make quite clear that California voters have, on numerous occasions, supported the exclusive right of California tribal governments to operate casino-style games. Legalization of sports betting shouldn’t become a back-door way to infringe upon this exclusivity.
A powerful, well-regulated gaming sector is of utmost importance to California’s tribal governments and the public. Assessing the integrity of the gaming business shields California and is our authentic North Star that guides each of our stances and decision DraftKings and FanDuel
The two daily fantasy sports sites are eyeing legal sports wagering and that interest increases now. DraftKings had already announced its intention to provide sports wagering:
FanDuel:
“The Supreme Court’s decision, which paves the way for countries to legalize sports gambling, creates a huge opportunity for FanDuel as our platform, brand, and customer base supply a special and persuasive base to meaningfully participate.
At our center, we’re a business that produces sports more exciting. In the same manner we revolutionized fantasy sports, we’ll bring innovation to the sport gambling space. This decision makes it possible for us to bring the passion and participation we’ve observed one of our users to new and enlarged marketplaces and create a sports gaming product which lovers will love. FanDuel is and will continue to be the best portable destination for every sports enthusiast.”
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins:
“Our mission has always been to bring fans closer to the sports that they love and now, due to the wisdom of the Supreme Court, DraftKings is going to have the ability to exploit our proven technologies to provide our customers with revolutionary online sports gambling products. This judgment gives us the capacity to further enhance our product offerings and build on our unique capacity to drive fan participation.”

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