Judge Blocks New Jersey’s Sports-Betting Plan

(CN) - A federal judge on Friday evening granted a request from the NCAA and the nation's four major professional sports associations to temporarily stop New Jersey from allowing legalized sports betting.

U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp issued a temporary restraining order late Friday afternoon after a request from the the NCAA, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.

Shipp said the leagues have shown that they would be irreparably harmed if the state's casinos and racetracks were permitted to allow sports betting.

In a complaint filed in the federal court in Trenton, N.J. earlier this week, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and all four major professional sports associations charge that Gov. Chris Christie is trying to wrest control of wagering to benefit the state's beleaguered horse racing industry and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

"This action challenges New Jersey's latest effort-in defiance of this court's Feb. 28, 2013 order and in clear and flagrant violation of federal law-to accomplish what it unsuccessfully attempted to do nearly three years ago: sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license, or authorize gambling on amateur and professional sports at state-licensed casinos and horse racetracks," the complaint says. "Because this effort is no more lawful than New Jersey's past ones, it, too, should be enjoined."

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