United States: Supreme Court abolishes the ban sports betting in 46 of 50 states

The US Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the state of New Jersey, and has abolished the sports betting ban still in force in 46 of the 50 US states, on 14/05/2018. New Jersey had been waging a legal battle for many years (see details below) to abolish this ban.

The Supreme Court found that the 1992 law in force was unconstitutional. The 1992 text, the "Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act", prevents any legalisation of paid sports betting in the United States. This law does not apply in four of the country's 50 states: Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. Nevada is allowed to offer paid sports bets on isolated matches while Delaware, Montana and Oregon may only offer combinations of sports games.

Sports betting and New Jersey

• In 2011, the voters of New Jersey responded favourably, by a large majority, to a public consultation to allow sports betting at race-tracks and casinos.
  
  • The city of Atlantic City, known for its casinos (in economic difficulty for years), is located in New Jersey.
  • New Jersey is one of 46 states covered by a federal ban on sports betting.
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