Federal Ban On Sports Betting Upheld By Appeals Panel

By Ian Bush

ATLANTIC CITY (CBS) -- New Jersey officials say their luck has not run out in the push to legally offer sports betting. This, as a federal appeals court panel in Philadelphia delivers a blow to the state.

The defeat, coming in a 2-to-1 ruling, with Judge Midge Rendell upholding the ban, along with Judge Maryanne Trump Barry (who happens to be Donald Trump's sister.)

Lesniak: "She gave her independent opinion. But as Donald Trump often is, she was wrong in this case as well."

State Senator Raymond Lesniak says his side will appeal to the full court. Their argument: that New Jersey is neither regulating nor authorizing sports betting.

"We're just allowing our race tracks and casinos to engage in sports betting. They need it to bring people there, to gain the benefits that are now only benefiting organized crime and offshore gambling rings."

And in the four states where the law allows some form of sports wagering, like in Delaware. Last NFL season, the first state cleared more than $6.5 million from bettors.