Leagues Seek Injunction To Halt Delaware Sports Betting
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Goodell Accused Of Hypocrisy For
Suing To Block Delaware's Betting Plans |
The four major U.S. pro sports leagues and the NCAA yesterday "sought a preliminary injunction in federal court" that would "prohibit Delaware from starting crucial portions of its sports betting plan this fall," according to Cris Barrish of the Wilmington NEWS JOURNAL. In seeking the injunction, the leagues "hope to stop Delaware from implementing its plan to allow single-game bets on NFL games and bets of any kind on other sporting events." The leagues "sought a court hearing on their injunction request," which "piggybacks on a federal lawsuit filed Friday and spearheaded" by the NFL over sports betting. The 26-page brief stated that the leagues would "suffer 'irreparable harm' to their reputations if Delaware was allowed to proceed before the case was decided," and added that if Delaware is "forced to wait until the lawsuit is decided to have sports betting, the harm to the state would be 'minimal.'" Barrish notes Delaware plans to offer sports betting by September 10, the opening day of the NFL season, and the lawsuit is "not expected to be resolved by then." U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet is "reviewing the request for an injunction," and the court "must decide whether a hearing on the injunction request is appropriate, or whether to let Delaware start and run sports betting while the case moves through the courts." Meanwhile, Delaware state House majority leader Pete Schwartzkopf yesterday wrote a two-page letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, "accusing him and other major sports leagues of 'blatant hypocrisy' for suing to block Delaware's sports betting plans." Schwartzkopf in the letter "cited the league's lucrative contracts with ESPN and other networks that broadcast games and promote gambling on their Web sites." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy in a written statement said that the league is "only 'interjecting ourselves into Delaware matters' because officials and casino owners plan to violate federal law." McCarthy added that the league's contracts with its network partners "prohibit any content that refers to betting on the outcome of games during NFL telecasts as well as pre- and post-game shows" (Wilmington NEWS JOURNAL, 7/29).
STATE INTENDS TO MOVE FORWARD: Delaware Gov. Jack Markell's legal counsel Michael Barlow said that the state is "intent on moving forward and offering some form of sports betting despite yesterday's filing." Barlow: "After reviewing the latest challenge from the NFL and other sports leagues, it is clear some form of sports betting will go forward in Delaware. We are now left with the technical legal issue of the type of bets that can be offered" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/29).
MAKING TOO MUCH OF IT? In Philadelphia, Bill Conlin writes under the header, "NFL Not Dealing Straight In Suit." Conlin: "Goodell says sports betting in Delaware will happen over his dead, cold hands. ... Try not to guffaw at Goodell's assessment of the moral carnage Delaware's legalized point-spread wagering would wreak on the multibillion-buck bonanza he oversees" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/29).
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