Sports Betting Injunction Appeal Urged to Speed by NFL

Having lost a fight to get an injunction placed against Delaware sports betting, sports leagues led by the NFL asked an appeals court to rapidly reverse the decision, before it could be proven the correct one.

Seeing a potential fait accompli ahead if Delaware begins play at its lottery sports betting as scheduled next month, the NFL and its pack of jackals demanded a federal appeals court quickly overrule a district court judge's decision to allow the program to begin while the trial awaits. Sports league attorneys are reportedly anxious to get a stay against the sports gambling measure, permitting them to then hit the brakes and tie up Delaware in court for years before a resolution would allow the gaming to start.

The leagues, led by the NFL and including the NBA, the NHL, the NCAA, and MLB, have filed as of Monday with the Third US Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse Judge Gregory Sleet and block the single-game sports wagering which Delaware plans for the start of the NFL season.

Sleet had denied the request for an injunction, saying no irreparable harm would come to the leagues if betting is begun. If the leagues do not succeed in blocking the opening of the sports betting system, it may quickly become apparent that no damage is done, losing hopes for their case as well as the injunction.

"We believe Judge Sleet made the correct decision to reject the request for an injunction," said a spokesman for Delaware Governor Jack Markell, noting that the league move was expected.

The brief filed by league attorneys says, without a stay, the sports associations "will have to endure months of sports betting, which is clearly in violation of federal law."

One wit, clearly referencing the huge illegal sports gambling business in the US, said, "And this would be different how?"