Christie wants US Supreme Court to rule on sports betting

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Gov. Chris Christie thinks the U.S. Supreme Court should decide whether New Jersey can legalize sports betting.

Christie commented Wednesday while co-hosting WFAN's "Boomer and Carton" sports-take radio show.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday set aside the state's challenge to a federal betting ban. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling invalidated a law passed by New Jersey in 2014 that would have allowed sports betting at casinos and racetracks. The court found New Jersey's law repealing prohibitions against sports gambling violated the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which forbids state-authorized sports gambling.

Christie says officials are trying to stop New Jersey from legalizing illegal bets made on sports.

The Republican says it is "long shot" that the nation's highest court would take the case.