Christie lauds Supreme Court decision on sports betting

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Monday lauded the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a federal law banning sports betting.

“A great day for the rights of states and their people to make their own decisions,” he tweeted. “New Jersey citizens wanted sports gambling and the federal Gov’t had no right to tell them no. The Supreme Court agrees with us today. I am proud to have fought for the rights of the people of NJ.”

A great day for the rights of states and their people to make their own decisions. New Jersey citizens wanted sports gambling and the federal Gov’t had no right to tell them no. The Supreme Court agrees with us today. I am proud to have fought for the rights of the people of NJ.

— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) May 14, 2018

The decision is a victory for Christie, who has been fighting since 2010 to make sports wagering legal at racetracks and casinos in the state. 

{mosads}However, the practice had been blocked by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Monday that PASPA’s provisions blocking states from authorizing and licensing a sports gambling scheme conflicts with the anti-commandeering rule.

“Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own. Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not,” Justice Samuel Alito said in delivering the court’s opinion. 

“PASPA ‘regulates state governments’ regulation’ of their citizens. The Constitution gives Congress no such power.”