Sports Betting Suit by NFL Forces Delaware to Spend on Lawyers

Delaware has been forced by an NFL lawsuit to hire expensive attorneys to defend its right to raise revenue with a sports betting program added to its lottery.

The National Football League, which plays largely in stadiums built by public funding, says it understands the urgent need for states to find new revenues to provide essential services, but it has to sue Delaware to prevent sports betting. In response, Delaware has been forced to hire high-priced attorneys to represent the state's position that sports gambling does not threaten or harm the NFL.

Delaware hired the firm of Bouchard, Margules, and Friedlander as Governor Jack Markell and acting Attorney General Richard Gebelein agreed that state attorneys needed help in going against the NFL's elite legal team.

State Solicitor Lawrence Lewis told DelawareOnline that his office "is not really completely staffed to take that on.'' State Attorney offices around the US have had to deal with shrinking staff hours to fit budget cuts.

The NFL has asked for an injunction against the sports betting program, knowing that the case may take years to advance through courts while the injunction prevents Delaware from operating while the case is open. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet asked both sides to stand down, so that the case may receive rapid treatment.

This means the state postponing any sports betting until the case is heard, but a quick resolution to the case rather than years of being tied up by legal tricks. Of course, the NFL has a problem with the quick scheduling, so attorneys will confer with Sleet this week.

In the meantime, Delaware must pay as much as $500 an hour each for a team of attorneys from its empty coffers, so that it can have a chance to run a sports betting operation no more harmful to the league than existing wagering in Las Vegas.