New Jersey spends $7.2m on sports betting legal bid

New Jersey has so far spent a total of $7.2m (€5.9m) on legal bills in its fight to expand legalised sports betting in the US.

The state is leading an effort to overturn the federal 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

PASPA makes it unlawful for government entities to sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, licence or authorise betting schemes based on games played by either amateur or professional athletes.

Nevada is currently the only state in which players can legally bet in sports, but this could change should the US Supreme Court rule in favour of New Jersey.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie started the bid in 2012 and the state has been working with private law firms Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, and Gibbons P.C.

Invoices and information obtained by Observer show Gibson Dunn & Crutcher billed $5.6m to represent Christie from October 2012 to August 2017.

Gibbons P.C. has also billed $1.5m to represent the state legislature from December 2012 to February 2018.

This week, New Jersey was handed a major boost in its efforts after golf’s PGA Tour became the latest major sports organisation to declare its support for the expansion of legalisation.

The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have also backed the move.

Related article: PGA Tour backs sports betting expansion in US