New Ruling Against NJ Sportsbetting - No Impact on Online Wagering

The move towards legalizing sports betting has taken a major blow.  A federal judge ruled Friday against the legalization and regulation by New Jersey of sports betting. 

New Jersey Takes a Hit from Big Four

The motion was filed in request from the four major American professional sports leagues as well as the NCAA, which governs collegiate athletics.  The motion was filed in reaction to the attempt by New Jersey state to regulate sports betting and gain corresponding financial revenue benefits.

The temporary restraining order was issued by U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp validating the leagues demonstration of irreparable harm from the provision of sports betting by the state's casinos and racetracks.  The motion is part of a larger move by the leagues' to permanently prevent the state from ever allowing sports betting.

Ways to Wager Online

Nonetheless, the move against New Jersey should not be seen as an eradication of the possibility of sports betting in America.  There continue to be ways for players to play online, thought such sites as bet365 sports, Winner Sports, and 888 Sports.  The key concern in the developments in New Jersey is that there is a movement against states sponsoring or benefiting in any way from sports betting. 

At the same time, New Jersey state is not going to lay down in its efforts either, according to a spokesman for New Jersey state Congressman Doug Christie, the leader of the sports betting and online gambling push in New Jersey:

''This is a temporary order while the core issues surrounding sports wagering in New Jersey are fully considered by the court.''  Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak continues to insist that ''We continue to have full confidence in the strength and appropriateness of our position as we move forward in the litigation.''

Not all Sports Wagers Banned

While New Jersey racetrack officials had to curtail plans to begin offering sport betting, they did point out that while the restraining order applies prohibits betting on the four major American pro sports leagues of football, basketball, baseball, hockey and all college sports, it still does not prohibit betting on other sports such as boxing, MMA fighting, NASCAR and soccer, leaving the door open for offering some form of sports betting in the near future.