NJ: Leagues have no standing in sports bet suit

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- A court filing claims sports gambling is so widespread already that New Jersey's plans to implement it won't cause any harm to college and pro sports leagues.

The argument is contained in a court filing that seeks to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the four major pro leagues and the NCAA.

New Jersey's Legislature approved sports gambling -- in defiance of a federal ban -- earlier this year.

The leagues' lawsuit seeks to stop the state from granting sports gambling licenses.

In its brief released late Friday, the state claims the leagues have no standing to bring the lawsuit because they can't show they'd suffer direct harm from sports gambling in New Jersey when more than $350 billion is already bet on sports, both legally and illegally.

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