Judge: N.J. can’t launch sports betting

By Bob Jordan and Steve Edelson, Asbury Park Press

TRENTON, N.J. – A federal judge says Monmouth Park can’t cash in Sunday on Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to launch betting on NFL football at the Oceanport racetrack.

But track officials said they are considering taking bets in future weeks on soccer, NASCAR racing and other sports not covered by the ruling.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shipp late Friday put in place a temporary restraining order that will prevent the track from taking bets on this weekend’s NFL games, and also applies to NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and NCAA games.

Track officials said they were expecting a crowd of 10,000 Sunday to bet on Jets-Bills, Eagles-Cardinals and other NFL games. The track was scheduled to open 7am Sunday in order to accommodate customers wishing to wager on the Lions-Falcons game being played in London at 9:30am.

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