Published on May 5, 2014 by Bob Hartman

The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the state of recent Jersey has spent greater than $2.8 million in attorney fees since Governor Chris Christie was forced to defend his initiative to issue sports gambling licenses.

The four major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL), in conjunction with the NCAA filed a lawsuit against the state in 2012 demanding Christie's initiative was illegal in step with the 1992 Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which says all sports gambling is prohibited rather then in states that already offer spots gambling to their visitors.

New Jersey, and thus Christie, have lost every step of the battle in court thus far. However, that would has been the plan all along. This month the Supreme Court is predicted to make a decision in the event that they will hear the case.

Oddly, in political spheres, the scoop isn't that the Supreme Court may be deciding to listen to the case this month. Rather, the news, in keeping with ABC News, is that the state is wasting extra money than necessary at a time once they have an $800 million deficit.

An much more controversial point is that the firm the state is paying is similar firm Christie hired to research the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal.

Because of the present political tension surrounding Christie, the governor's political future might rely on the end result of the Supreme Court ruling.

"If, by some long shot, the Court takes up the case," said Michael Enhowsen, analyst for CGW, "and if, by a fair longer shot, the Court rules in favor of Christie, the state will make up that $2.8 in a pair months of legal sports gambling within the state and Christie can be a hero again."

The illegal sports gambling market in New Jersey is currently estimated to be worth $20 billion. If legalized the market is anticipated to quadruple the dimensions of the Las Vegas market and a few estimates expect New Jersey to garner $100 million in revenue yearly.

According to Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill, which owns and operates over 100 sportsbooks in Las Vegas, this was always for the Supreme Court to come to a decision. Though, whether the Supreme Court takes it up or not, whether or not they overturn PAPSA or not, the way forward for America, he believes, might be a rustic where anyone may be in a position to bet from anywhere.

Read More... [Source: Gambling News]