Watch CBS News

Christie To Keep Fighting For Sports Betting In New Jersey

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Gov. Chris Christie says he isn't throwing in the towel in the fight to legalize sports gambling in New Jersey.

Christie said Thursday after visiting a group home for people with disabilities that he'll take the fight to the Supreme Court if he has to.

"If somehow they think that because I lost in the first court that I'm giving up - one, they don't know me and two, they're ill-informed," Christie told reporters including WCBS 880's Jim Smith. "If what I have to do is walk off sports betting to get a one-weekend, $6 million - which is about the estimate of the economic impact - I'll stay with the sports betting."

Christie To Keep Fighting For Sports Betting In New Jersey

Last month a federal judge in Trenton upheld a 1992 law that bans sports gambling in New Jersey and 45 other states. Only Nevada, Oregon, Montana and Delaware are exempted. The four major pro sports leagues and the NCAA oppose New Jersey's efforts.

On Wednesday the NCAA told The Associated Press it has reversed a ban on New Jersey hosting NCAA-sanctioned championship events. It put the ban in place last year after Christie vowed to move ahead with plans to license sports betting operators.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.