In a decision released this spring, the Supreme Court of the United States declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional. This allowed New Jersey to move forward with efforts to have legal sports betting in Atlantic City casinos and racetracks in the state.
PASPA is the law that prohibited single-game sports betting everywhere except Nevada. Limited forms of sports gambling in Delaware, Montana and Oregon were also exempt. The decision declaring the law unconstitutional opened the door for states across the country to legalize sports betting.
A handful of states had passed sports betting legislation anticipating the court would rule in New Jersey’s favor. Following the decision, lawmakers in these states, and New Jersey, immediately got to work. They began putting together legislation to govern sports betting inside NJ’s borders.