Ruling prohibiting sports betting in New Jersey upheld

A federal appeals court has struck another blow to New Jersey’s efforts to allow sports betting by upholding an earlier ruling that said the practice violated federal law.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia released the decision on Tuesday morning, upholding the opinion of a U.S. District Court judge in Trenton, N.J. The circuit court wrote that a law passed last year allowing for sports betting at New Jersey casinos and racetracks would violate a 1992 federal act outlawing sports betting with a few exceptions.

The New Jersey law, passed by referendum in 2011 and codified into law last year, was challenged by a number of professional sports leagues and the NCAA. Following the lower court ruling in March, New Jersey appealed the decision with Gov. Chris Christie’s support.

Under the law, New Jersey’s racetracks would have been allowed to take bets on sporting events.